Booked & Busy Filmmaking Podcast

One of my fave episodes yet! In this episode of the Booked and Busy Filmmaking podcast we chat with actor, director and producer Elisabeth Rohm. We learn about Elisabeth's journey from writer to actress, her experience on soap operas, and her iconic role on Law & Order. Elisabeth shares insights on transitioning to directing, and the importance of preparation and collaboration in filmmaking. 

We also chat about the power of storytelling, especially in true crime adaptations. Elisabeth also discusses the production company that she and the amazing Kara Feifer started together and we hear all about Rohm Feifer Entertainment's upcoming projects!

Elisabeth Rohm is an acclaimed actress, director, and producer, best known for her role in LAW & ORDER (Emmy and SAG nominee). Her collaboration with David O. Russell in the Oscar-nominated AMERICAN HUSTLE earned her a SAG Award for Best Ensemble. She also starred in Russell's JOY as well as Jay Roach's Oscar-nominated BOMBSHELL. Beginning with her directorial debut, GIRL IN THE BASEMENT, Rohm gravitates towards thrilling, woman-centered stories. Other films include SWITCHED BEFORE BIRTH; GIRL IN ROOM 13; DEVIL ON CAMPUS: THE LARRY RAY STORY, starring Billy Zane; HUSBAND/ FATHER/KILLER; and most recently WIFE STALKER.

00:00
The Early Influences of Elisabeth Rohm

04:46
Transitioning from Writing to Acting

07:48
The Soap Opera Experience

10:44
Law and Order: A Career Milestone

13:42
The Journey into Directing

19:19
Building a Production Company

23:16
Acquiring and Adapting True Crime Stories

26:29
The Journey of Filmmaking and Collaboration

29:05
Navigating Established Shows as a Guest Director

31:00
Preparation: The Key to Directing Success

32:55
The Impact of Great Directors on Actors

35:53
Creating a Supportive and Empowering Set Environment

39:05
Current Projects and Future Aspirations

43:55
Empowering Women in Filmmaking

46:46
THIS ONE TIME Resilience and the Importance of Second Chances

50:22
PODCAST OUTRO.wav

I loved chatting with Jess for this episode of the Booked and Busy Filmmaking Podcast!  

We talk about their journey from child actor to indie filmmaker, navigating identity in the film industry, the importance of collaboration, and the creative process behind Jess's projects.

Jess shares insights on the importance of specificity in writing to enhance the final product, the indie film landscape, and their aspirations for future projects, emphasizing the need for authentic representation in storytelling.

Jess McLeod is a trans non-binary filmmaker and actor. Their first short, 'DTF?', premiered at the Oscar-qualifying 2024 Out On Film festival, and has picked up several awards thus far, including Best Director (2024 Chilliwack Independent Film Festival), and Best Screenwriting (2025 Leo Awards). Their next short film, 'She’s Nonbinary', will have its festival premiere early 2026. 

Upcoming acting credits include Bob Odenkirk’s new action film 'Normal', and AMC’s new series 'The Audacity', starring Zach Galifianakis and Billy Magnussen.

This episode is SO INSPIRING!!!! In conversation, Breanne Williamson shares her journey as a multi-hyphenate creative, we discuss the magic of the incredible community she's built around her identity as a queer artist, the power of vulnerability in storytelling and the importance of representation in her work. She reflects on her experiences in filmmaking, from creating her first short film 'Coming Out' to her feature-length sequel 'Aging Out' while reminiscing about the lessons learned along the way. 

Breanne also talks about her journey in  stand-up comedy and the creative process and aspirations for her new web series, Basement 51.

Breanne Williamson (She/Her) is a lesbian identifying actor, writer, comedian and director whose work celebrates queer identity with humour, heart, and authenticity. She has cultivated a dedicated following through her YouTube channel and social media platforms, amassing millions of views, where she shares comedic sketches, personal stories, and queer lifestyle content for a global audience

Breanne wrote, directed, produced and stars in the 6-episode indie web series titled Basement 51, which launched Friday, October 3 2025. This is Breanne’s third crowd-funded indie project after Coming Out (2.2. Million Views) & Aging Out (1.4 Million Views). Breanne’s acting credits extend beyond her own projects. She has appeared in television series including Motherland: Fort Salem (Freeform), Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (AppleTV+), The Good Doctor (ABC), Blockbuster (Netflix), and Family Law (The CW/Global), showcasing her versatility in both comedic and dramatic roles. In addition to her work on screen, Breanne has built a strong presence as a stand up comedian and content creator. She also co-hosts the popular LGBTQ+ podcast I Can Explain, where she and fellow comedian Sean Lusk answer listeners’ questions in a hilariously candid format.

Chapters

00:00
Breanne's Creative Journey Begins

02:37
Navigating the Business World

05:33
Coming Out: A Personal Revelation

08:28
The Impact of Vulnerability

11:16
Family Dynamics and Acceptance

14:16
Creating the Short Film 'Coming Out'

17:11
Lessons Learned in Filmmaking

23:52
Empowering Others Through Collaboration

26:17
Creative Funding Strategies

27:48
Building a Community Through Content

29:43
Finding Your Creative Purpose

33:37
The Journey of Aging Out

37:34
Casting for Authenticity

42:17
The Transition to Stand-Up Comedy

44:40
The Impact of Stand-Up Comedy on Life

47:27
Creating Basement 51: A Web Series Journey

50:33
Community Engagement and Premiere Experience

54:11
The Importance of Fun in Creativity

57:59
Aspirations and Future Success

59:44
This One Time: Life Lessons from Stand-Up Comedy

I learned SO MUCH durning this chat wiht the incredible Aryn Mott! We talk all about their artistic journey from performing arts school to becoming an intimacy coordinator. They discuss the importance of a supportive environment on set and the significance of mental health and consent in performance. 

Aryn also reflects on their experiences working on the Emmy-winning series Shogun, highlighting the need for emotional safety and the unique experience of exploring the work through the leans of a culture new to them.  In this conversation, we discuss their journey as an intimacy coordinator and actor and Aryn shares insights on the tools and techniques used in intimacy coordination, the balance between acting and coordinating, and their experience becoming a published author. Throughout this chat, Aryn also reflects on the lessons learned from auditions and the significance of collaboration and curiosity in storytelling.

Chapters

00:00
Artistic Beginnings and Early Influences

02:53
Navigating Education and Personal Growth

05:55
The Gap Year: Travel and Self-Discovery

08:52
Lessons from Academia: Finding One's Voice

11:51
Transitioning to Intimacy Coordination

14:48
Understanding the Role of an Intimacy Coordinator

22:19
The Role of Intimacy Coordination

27:02
Importance of Intimacy Coordination on Set

31:55
Mental Health in Performance

39:18
Insights from Shogun Production

45:22
Diving into Language and Culture

50:40
What's in the Intimacy Coordinator's Kit?

57:29
Mental Health Toolkit for Performers

01:00:26
Balancing Acting and Intimacy Coordination

01:05:46
The Importance of Curiosity in Collaboration

01:06:50
Understanding the Psychological Impact of Performance

01:08:02
Regulatory Tools for Actors on Set

01:09:30
Aryn's Social Media and Sharing Knowledge

01:13:24
Introducing Aryn's Book - 'Performing with Resilience' 

01:19:47
This One Time: A Transformative Audition Experience

This is such a fabulous episode!  Mayumi Yoshida shares her journey from a multicultural upbringing to becoming a filmmaker. She discusses the challenges she faced in the acting industry, particularly regarding representation, and how these experiences motivated her to create her own opportunities in theatre and film. Mayumi reflects on the impact of her grandmother's stories on her creative work, particularly in her film 'Akashi', which explores themes of love, commitment, and cultural identity. She emphasizes the importance of personal narratives in filmmaking and the support of her community in navigating the industry as an independent filmmaker. 

You can catch screenings of 'Akashi' at the Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival on Sunday November 9th at TIFF Lightbox and also coming up in Vancouver at Vancouver Asian Film Festival on November 15th at 9pm at Scotia Bank Theatre as the festival's closing film!

Mayumi Yoshida is a Japanese-born, Vancouver-based actor, writer, and director whose work bridges cultures and generations. Raised across Japan, Belgium, and the U.S., her international upbringing informs her storytelling—intimate, emotionally layered, and often exploring identity, intergenerational trauma, and the quiet ache of belonging. A TIFF Writer’s Studio alum and participant in WBD Access x Canadian Academy, and Beyond Japan Filmmakers Program (mentored by Hirokazu Koreeda). Yoshida crafts character-driven narratives with understated emotional power. Her directorial debut short, AKASHI, which she also wrote and starred in, won Outstanding Writer out of 4500 films at the NBCUniversal Short Film Festival and Best Female Director at the Vancouver Short Film Festival. Her SXSW Jury Award-winning music video Different Than Before was also nominated for a JUNO. She recently served as Associate Producer on the A24/Apple TV+ series SUNNY. Her debut feature, AKASHI just had it's award winning premiere at VIFF!

Chapters

00:00
Introduction and Background

05:47
Journey into Filmmaking

09:19
Theater to Film Transition

12:11
Creating Akashi: The Play

17:52
Inspiration Behind Akashi: A Personal Story

23:01
Exploring Themes of Love and Commitment

28:06
The Influence of Family Stories

30:27
Navigating Personal Loss and Creative Expression

34:20
The Journey of a First-Time Filmmaker

36:16
Funding and Community Support in Filmmaking

37:59
Unexpected Success and Recognition

40:48
Embracing Identity and Ownership in Filmmaking

44:15
The Transition from Short Film to Feature

45:39
Building Experience Through Diverse Projects

49:42
The Importance of Story in Creative Choices

53:57
Visual Storytelling Beyond Dialogue

55:17
Symbolism and Juxtaposition in Film

57:36
Exploring Minimal Dialogue in Cinema

59:02
Shooting in Japan: Challenges and Creativity

01:01:12
Collaborative Filmmaking: The Importance of Team

01:03:20
Balancing Budget and Creative Control

01:07:00
The Casting Process: Building Connections

01:09:50
THIS ONE TIME: Community Impact in Filmmaking

Kat pops in for a quick "Heyyyy" and to say thank you all for your support of  of the Booked & Busy Filmmaking Podcast. 

Pausing the Pod so Kat can go shoot an exciting role in a Lifetime Thriller!!! After she wraps this movie, she'll be back VERY soon with an INCREDIBLE lineup of guests! 

See y'all soooon! 

xo 

In this powerful conversation with Kat Barrell we talk all about her journey as a creative and her path as a lifelong storyteller from theatre school to producing and directing indie shorts, to starring in network television, to writing and directing features.

Kat and Kat also get vulnerable about the demands and unique challenges of motherhood for creative professionals and the importance of balance and self-advocacy in the industry. This episode is a so inspiring and is packed with so many incredibly important takeaways!

Katherine (Kat) Barrell has shot over 100 episodes of scripted television and 15 feature films (leading 9 of them and directing two). She is best known for her series regular roles as Officer Nicole Haught in WYNONNA EARP (NBC, SYFY), Alicia Rutherford in WORKIN’ MOMS (NETFLIX) and Joy Harper on GOOD WITCH (HALLMARK). 

 Kat is a graduate of George Brown Classical Theatre School and trained at the Groundlings School of Comedy in Los Angeles as well as attending the UCLA extension program with a focus in television directing. Her feature directorial debut, ‘Flipping for Christmas’, was acquired by The Hallmark Channel and was voted one of the top 10 Christmas Movies of 2023 by House and Home Magazine. She most recently completed her second directorial feature, CLICKBAIT UNFOLLOWED, alongside co-director, Melanie Scrofano, for US streamer, TUBI. The pair also co-wrote the screenplay and co-starred.\

Chapters

00:00
The Creative Journey Begins

04:09
Navigating the Acting Landscape

07:07
The Impact of Mentorship

10:03
From Auditions to Breakthroughs

12:57
Directing: A New Hat

15:47
Personal Stories in Film

19:13
The Importance of Rehearsals

24:10
Transitioning from Actor to Director

28:02
Navigating the Hallmark Film Landscape

30:48
Creating 'The Clickbait Unfollowed'

36:56
The Realities of Social Media in Careers

37:32
Collaborative Strengths in Filmmaking

37:55
Casting Choices and Challenges

39:37
The Importance of Live Auditions

41:40
Directing While Pregnant

44:12
Balancing Motherhood and Creativity

46:57
The Myth of 'Having It All' as a Parent

49:26
Practical Tips for Working Parents

53:21
Living Life to Fuel Creativity

54:33
This One Time: A Cautionary Tale About Safety on Set

This episode is so incredibly inspiring! We chat with Eva Tavares all about her early creative life as a trained dancer and opera singer, her time on the stage as a musical theatre performer including the life changing role of Christine in the Broadway National Tour of Phantom Of The Opera, and her seamless transition from the stage into acting, directing and writing for film. 

We get deep into the importance of mentorship and the valuable lessons learned from patience in this industry. Eva also shares so many important takeaways from her experience as an indie filmmaker on beautiful  projects like her the short film that's opened many doors for her called  'A Little Vacation' and the challenges and triumphs of her high concept music videos she's directed.   

Eva's passion for storytelling has carried her from singing on stage to directing for Hallmark with many lessons and major wins along the way. 

Multi-hyphenates! This one is for you!

Chapters

02:23
Eva's Creative Journey: From Dance to Opera

04:42
Life on the Farm and Its Influence

06:53
Navigating Family Expectations in the Arts

09:32
Early Career: From University to Professional Work

14:09
The Importance of Smaller Roles and Backstage Experience

15:32
The Impact of the Banff Citadel Program

15:38
Transitioning to Toronto: Seeking Opportunities

17:40
Suzatsuka and the Journey to Phantom

19:56
The Experience of Playing Christine in Phantom

22:32
Navigating Personal Challenges in Performance

23:35
The Journey of Suzatska

26:54
Facing Life and Death in Auditions

32:22
From Musical Theatre to Film

37:51
Embracing New Opportunities in the Pandemic

42:52
Embracing the Journey of Creation

46:36
The Importance of Safe Spaces in Filmmaking

50:31
Valuing Every Crew Member's Contribution

53:26
Innovative Storytelling in Music Videos

01:06:21
The Art of Storytelling in Film

01:08:02
The Hallmark Make Her Mark Program

01:08:52
The Journey to Directing a Hallmark Movie

01:12:58
The Importance of Representation in Film

01:14:20
The Emotional Impact of Storytelling

01:16:02
The Challenges of Directing with a Baby on Set

01:18:17
Mutual Inspiration in the Creative Journey

01:18:57
This One Time

01:23:51
The Low Stakes of Creativity

01:30:17
Finding Joy in the Process of Creation

Such an incredible chat this week with Aliyah O'Brien and Priscilla Faia about their creative journeys, their beautiful bond and the birth of their new venture, The Liberated Actress Playground. We talk all about finding freedom and play as actors, the beauty of balance and the importance of community. 

The Liberated Actress Playground (aka the L.A.P) was born out of the need for a safe space for  artists and the holistic approach to life and acting, encouraging women to embrace their journeys and live fully!!

We go deep about making bold choices in life and in art and we get a juicy 'This One Time' where Aliyah spills some celebrity tea. 

Actors this one's for you! 

Chapters

03:37
Creative Journeys: From Childhood to Acting

06:25
The Power of Connection: How Aliyah and Priscilla Met

09:30
The Birth of the Liberated Actress Playground

12:23
Building Community in the Acting World

15:27
Transformative Experiences in the L.A.P Beta Program

18:08
Holistic Approaches to Acting and Coaching

23:52
Embodiment and Somatic Work in Acting

26:55
Bravery in Performance: The Role of Abigail in Calamity Jane

33:55
Creative Freedom on Set: Collaboration with Directors

39:19
Life Beyond Acting: Embracing Personal Growth

43:09
Building a Platform: From Idea to Reality

44:25
The Power of Partnership

47:25
Creating a Safe Space for Connection

49:38
Embracing the Messiness of Creation

51:23
The Sandbox: A New Approach to Self-Taping

01:03:26
This One Time

In this episode we chat with the Queen of the Crazy 8s, the incredible Grace Chin! The Crazy 8s is an 8 day filmmaking challenge that is absolutely iconic in the Vancouver indie film world. This episode is PACKED with tips and tricks on how to put your best foot forward, not only for the Crazy 8s but for ALL indie filmmaking!! 

Grace and I have an amazing chat in this episode we start off learning about her incredible creative life outside of the Crazy 8s as a bad ass multi-hyphenate creative. From being a published author, to a produced playwright, to being general manager of the independent theatre company Ruby Slippers , AND an actress in huge shows like like Riverdale, Firefly Lane, Lost in Space and of course being a prolific indie film exec producer! The woman does it all.

Then we get into the Crazy 8s BIG TIME!! We break down exactly how it all works and grace gives incredible insight and tips and tricks for each portion of the Crazy 8s process. From video pitch, to in person live pitch, to script edit, to shoot, to post!!! We dive deep into the entire wild ride that is the Crazy 8s. If you’ve ever thought of submitting your film's script to the Crazy 8s or if you’ve tried in the past and wanna give it another go, you’re not gonna wanna miss this episode!! 

And if even if you’re not submitting to this festival this year, there’re still sooo many inspiring takeaways for filmmakers and multi-hyphenates!! So stick around! K let’s get into it :) 

Chapters

00:00
The Origin Story of Grace Chin

11:48
The Journey of Writing, Directing and Producing

14:01
Casting Choices and Character Depth

14:47
Lessons from First-Time Directing

18:35
Evaluating Short Films as a Jury Member

20:44
The Crazy Eights Film Society Overview

23:12
Application Process and Tips for Filmmakers

28:45
The Importance of Info Sessions

29:28
Crafting the Perfect Script Submission

30:52
Feedback and Continuous Improvement

32:16
Video Pitch Essentials

32:59
Understanding the Jury's Perspective

35:15
Addressing Challenges in Your Pitch

36:12
Preparing for the Live Pitch

38:26
The Jury's Intentions

40:17
Navigating the Top 12 Stage

41:30
Utilizing Story Editors Effectively

46:35
Transitioning to the Top 6

50:47
Navigating the Paperwork of Filmmaking

54:49
The Importance of Producers in Indie Film

55:27
The Crazy 8s Filmmaking Process

59:01
This One Time: Lessons from Industry Mentors

01:01:46
Finding Your Place in the Creative Community