Breaking Indie

Breaking Indie — Ep. 28: “Content” with Coke Daniels & Ryan Thompson

What does it take to build a career as an independent filmmaker—and how do you make a compelling film when time, money, and resources are limited?

In Episode 28 of Breaking Indie, host Brenden Roberts sits down with director Coke Daniels and cinematographer Ryan Thompson to go behind the scenes of their new horror thriller, Content.

Coke Daniels shares his unconventional journey from being a hip-hop artist to becoming a writer, producer, and director of more than a dozen films. He talks about breaking into Hollywood with Baby’s Daddy, learning the filmmaking business through trial and error, finding his voice as a director, and why continuing to make the next film is often more important than dwelling on the last one.

Coke also discusses how Content came together, from developing the story around an elevated-horror concept to completely rewriting the script when the production shifted from an Unreal Engine stage to a practical location. The conversation explores the film’s themes of missing Black women, true-crime content creators, oversharing, suspense, and the importance of building characters and tension before the horror begins.

Then Brenden talks with cinematographer Ryan Thompson about his path from making movies with friends and working as a grip to becoming a full-time DP. Ryan discusses his work in documentary, music, narrative, and art filmmaking, including his time with Meow Wolf and the decision to focus entirely on cinematography—even when that meant taking a financial step backward.

Ryan also breaks down the cinematography of Content, including working within a ten-day schedule, lighting a large location with a small package, using practical windows and pool light to shape the image, creating nighttime interiors during the day, and finding ways to make limited resources feel much bigger on screen.

Most importantly, Coke and Ryan talk about the collaborative process behind Content—and how trusting your creative team can allow filmmakers to do their best work.

Breaking Indie is a podcast for filmmakers, by filmmakers, exploring the journeys, lessons, struggles, and experiences behind independent filmmaking.

🎬 Featuring:
Brenden Roberts — Host
Coke Daniels — Director
Ryan Thompson — Cinematographer

🎥 Film: Content

If you’re a filmmaker, actor, cinematographer, writer, or just someone interested in how movies get made, this episode is for you.

Subscribe to Breaking Indie for more conversations with filmmakers working to create, survive, and thrive in the film industry.

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The Breaking Indie Podcast: Tina Borek on Acting, Agents & Building a Career in New Mexico

What does it really take to build a successful acting career outside of Los Angeles and New York?

In this episode of The Breaking Indie Podcast, we sit down with Tina Borek, a New Mexico-based talent agent with years of experience representing actors in both New Mexico and Los Angeles. Tina shares her unique journey from actor and marketing professional to becoming a talent agent and building her own boutique agency.

We dive into what makes smaller film markets like New Mexico unique, why relationships are one of the most important parts of the entertainment business, and how local actors can use their location to their advantage. Tina discusses the growing opportunities for New Mexico talent, the importance of having special skills, bilingual abilities, improv training, and being more than just an actor.

Tina offers practical advice for actors looking for representation, including setting up an Actors Access account, keeping your materials current, being honest about where you live, finding mentors and coaches, and building genuine relationships within the filmmaking community.

Most importantly, we talk about why New Mexico's film community is becoming such an exciting place for actors—and why character actors, unique personalities, and performers with diverse skill sets can find incredible opportunities in the state's growing production industry.

Whether you're an actor just getting started, an experienced performer looking for your next opportunity, or a filmmaker interested in the business behind casting, this episode is packed with valuable insight.

Topics include:

• Finding an agent in a smaller film market
• What talent agents actually look for in actors
• Why relationships matter in the film industry
• The growing New Mexico acting market
• Special skills and bilingual actors
• Self-tapes and the post-COVID casting process
• How actors can stand out to casting directors
• Improv training and developing your creative toolbox
• Film festivals as networking opportunities
• Finding mentors and building community
• The advantages of being a local hire
• Why character actors can thrive in New Mexico

The Breaking Indie Podcast is a podcast for filmmakers, actors, and creatives navigating the independent film world—sharing real conversations and practical insight from the people actually doing the work.

If you enjoy the episode, like, subscribe, and share to help us continue supporting the independent filmmaking community.

Presented by BRW Digital, a Santa Fe-based video production company serving businesses and content creators worldwide.

#BreakingIndie #TinaBorek #NewMexicoFilm #Acting #Actors #FilmIndustry #Casting #TalentAgent #SantaFeFilm #IndependentFilm #Filmmaking #NewMexicoActors #SelfTape #FilmCommunity

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On this episode of Breaking Indie, we’re coming to you straight from the Santa Fe Film Festival with a deep dive into the indie film Rivals—a gritty, character-driven thriller set against a 1930s Depression-era backdrop.

Host Brendan Roberts sits down with actors Gene Hunt and Luce Rains, two longtime staples of the New Mexico film scene, to talk about their journeys through decades of stage and screen work. From Rains’ experience in No Country for Old Men and 3:10 to Yuma to Hunt’s return to acting after years in business, the conversation explores what it really means to build a sustainable creative life outside of Hollywood.

The episode also unpacks the origins of Rivals, which began as a feature-length script before evolving into a short “proof of concept” film—highlighting the realities of indie filmmaking, from fundraising to collaboration. The actors share insight into their roles, the film’s mystery-thriller tone, and the importance of strong writing when bringing characters to life.

In Part 2, we shift perspectives and talk with filmmaker Aaron Alexander and producer Abby Max of Silence Fiction Films. They discuss building a production company in New Mexico, their focus on dark dramas and psychological thrillers, and the creative hustle behind developing multiple projects at once.

Beyond filmmaking, the episode highlights the powerful work being done with the Children's Cancer Fund of New Mexico, where Abby Max helps lead a performing arts program that empowers young cancer patients through film, music, and storytelling.

This episode is packed with real talk about acting, producing, creative perseverance, and why passion—not fame—is what keeps indie filmmakers going.

🎬 Breaking Indie is a podcast for filmmakers, by filmmakers—sharing the stories behind the craft and the people who bring it to life.

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In this episode of Breaking Indie, we sit down with filmmakers Goldie Tom and Ryan Begay, who brought two powerful films to the Santa Fe Film Festival: the documentary Honor Song and the narrative short Cleaning Is a Cakewalk. 

Ryan shares how his journey from serving five years in the U.S. Air Force to working as an engineer eventually led him into filmmaking—and how that path inspired Honor Song, a documentary exploring Native American veterans and the role culture, prayer, and song play in their lives before, during, and after military service. The conversation dives into how personal experiences, reconnecting with fellow veterans, and learning more about post-service struggles helped shape the film’s emotional core.

Goldie and Ryan also talk about collaborating on Cleaning Is a Cakewalk, a heartfelt short about a young boy tasked with cleaning his community’s chapter house before a cakewalk celebration. Featuring children speaking largely in the Navajo language, the film aims to inspire younger generations to embrace their language and culture while seeing themselves represented on screen.

Along the way, the discussion covers the realities of indie filmmaking—documentary vs. narrative production challenges, working with child actors, translating scripts into Navajo, and building creative partnerships within the Native filmmaking community. Goldie even shares stories from her days producing heavy metal shows in Gallup and how that DIY spirit carried over into producing films.

It’s a fun, insightful conversation about culture, collaboration, and carving out space for Native voices in cinema.

Follow the filmmakers:

• Instagram: @ryanbegay505
• Instagram: @missgolden1
• Facebook: Goldie Tom
• Facebook: Ryan Begay

Breaking Indie is a podcast for filmmakers, by filmmakers—sharing real conversations from the trenches of independent film. 🎬

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Ep. 24 Chris and Will of Altitude Murals, Advertising 

In this special, slightly off-brand episode of Breaking Indie, we step outside the world of filmmaking and into the streets of Santa Fe to talk art, advertising, and large-scale storytelling.

Recorded during the 25th Anniversary Santa Fe Film Festival, host Brenden Wedner sits down with Chris and Will of Altitude Murals, a father-and-son team whose hand-painted poster became the visual identity of this year’s festival. From vintage billboard painting in the pre-digital era to modern mural workflows inspired by Michelangelo himself, Chris and Will break down the craft, technique, and problem-solving behind large-format art.

The conversation dives into:

• The lost art of hand-painted billboards and wall signs
• Scaling small designs into massive murals using centuries-old techniques
• Typography, visual hierarchy, and why fonts have “tone”
• Working in extreme weather and still getting the job done
• The surprising parallels between mural painting and filmmaking

Whether you’re a filmmaker, designer, or creative problem-solver, this episode explores how storytelling transcends medium—and why art on a wall isn’t all that different from art on a screen.

🎨🎬 Breaking Indie — a program for filmmakers, by filmmakers… and the artists who inspire them.

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In this episode of Breaking Indie, we’re coming to you from the Santa Fe Film Festival with two powerful conversations about documentary filmmaking, balance, and finding your voice as an artist.

First, we sit down with filmmaker Alexandra Lexton, director of the feature-length documentary Fool’s Paradise Lost. Alex shares the deeply personal journey behind the film—an exploration of healing, reconnection to nature, and restoring both our inner and outer wilds. Shot across the United States and Tanzania, the film brings together environmental voices, indigenous wisdom, and spiritual reflection. Alex opens up about the five-year process of making the film through COVID, working as a small, often solo crew, and how personal crisis led her to one of her most meaningful projects yet.

Then, we’re joined by Oliver Dixon, a first-time filmmaker whose short documentary Sky is also screening at the festival. Oliver talks about making his very first film as a college student with limited resources, following his friend Sky as she navigates preserving her Indigenous identity while pursuing a Western education and career. It’s a grounded, honest conversation about access, storytelling, and learning to trust your voice behind the camera.

From seasoned filmmakers to first-timers, this episode is all about why we tell stories, how documentaries find us, and what it really takes to bring a film to life—no matter where you’re starting from.

🎬 Films discussed: Fool’s Paradise Lost & Sky
🎙 Recorded at the Santa Fe Film Festival
🎧 A program for filmmakers, by filmmakers

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In this episode of Breaking Indie, host Brenden Roberts sits down with filmmakers Laurie Clemens Maier and Laurel Harris, the creative team behind the short film 47. What begins as a lively, candid conversation quickly unfolds into a deeply personal and timely discussion about creativity, collaboration, and the realities many women face as they navigate career, identity, and the question of motherhood.

Laurie and Laurel share the real-life experiences that inspired 47, a narrative film exploring what happens when a woman who’s done “everything right” professionally is confronted with the possibility that she may never have children. The conversation dives into fertility, societal expectations, financial barriers like IVF, and the stigma surrounding women of a certain age—topics that are rarely discussed openly, but resonate deeply with many.

Along the way, the trio also talks indie filmmaking, wearing multiple hats on set, building long-term creative partnerships, and why telling honest stories matters. With humor, vulnerability, and insight, this episode is a reminder that independent film isn’t just about making movies—it’s about starting conversations.

🎬 Featured Film: 47
🌐 More info: 47themovie.com

IG: @laurelleafproductions
🎙️ Show: Breaking Indie

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Hosted by Brenden Roberts, this episode of Breaking Indie features Mark and Mike Chamberlain.

In this episode we talk about filming in Japan, manifesting your creation through faith, directing your twin, taking direction from your twin, and Yeti mugs. 

GAIJINfilm.com

The Breaking Indie Podcast. It’s the cheap and dirty podcast who explores all elements of filmmaking. We take lessons from all perspectives on the industry, from Hollywood legends to independent artists. Please like, subscribe, and leave a review. For inquiries about future episodes, or to be featured in our next season, please e-mail [email protected]

# brotherhood# cherry blossom# Children# death# Drama# Family# feature# Gaijin# grad student# International# japan# Mark Chamberlain# Michael Chamberlain# siblings# spirit# Student# suicide# temple# twin

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Hosted by Brenden Roberts, this episode of Breaking Indie features Anne-Marie Johnson and Martin Grey and their film, “The addiction of Hope” writing during the pandemic. SAG representative (former Vice-President, and first African American woman to serve in said position, and current board member), Anne-Marie Johnson speaks to her experience as an actress evolving and reinventing herself in the wake of an art form resistant to aging. The importance of unions, and collaborative agreements from SAG-AFTRA. We discuss the various SAG contracts and how to navigate them as an indie filmmaker. Also, as told through the film, how your actions effect your family, identity, and being an a Black woman in Hollywood. 

@theaddictionofhope “When her sister gets sick, an aging actress is forced to examine her choices in life and the importance of family versus fame in a story about having the courage to change your life.”

Part 2 of this episode features, David Marroquin, Director of Photography and Editor, who is representing two films at The Santa Fe Film Festival. He talks about balancing filmmaking and working as a LAPD officer, shaping a story as a collaborative effort.

The Breaking Indie Podcast. It’s the cheap and dirty podcast who explores all elements of filmmaking. We take lessons from all perspectives on the industry, from Hollywood legends to independent artists. Please like, subscribe, and leave a review. For inquiries about future episodes, or to be featured in our next season, please e-mail [email protected]

Support the show

Please like and subscribe. The Breaking Indie Podcast can be found on Spotify, Apple Music, Soundcloud, and Youtube.

Hosted by Brenden Roberts, this episode of Breaking Indie features the director and star of "Penguins in Paris... a Love Story".

Director, Producer, Writer, Kenny Hargrove is an award-winning producer who's made short films and webseries. Kenny is now packaging a feature film project called "Snow"

Genia Michaela began her theatre career acting in plays on Broadway. She began her film career working with Steven Soderbergh. Genia has attended U. North Carolina School of the Arts, MIT and Yale, where she played D1 Ice Hockey. She has studied Physics, Opera, Screenwriting and Directing, in addition to Acting. Genia is an award-winning songwriter. She is a SCUBA divemaster. Genia has lived in 3 countries and traveled to 6 continents. Genia is fond of dragons, cats, bubbles, fairies, kindness, snow, books, (contained) fires, octopi, Efteling, holidays, and museums.

People Genia has worked with include: Lena Headey, Richard Gere, Steven Soderbergh, Eva Mendes, Kevin Kline, Cuba Gooding Jr, Reba McEntire, Eddie McClintock, Katee Sackhoff, Ed Harris, Richard Dreyfuss, Rachel Nichols, Olivia Williams, Jeremy Irons, Keith Carradine, Joe Mantegna, Al Pacino, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Diego Luna, Peter Stormare, Martin Sheen, Alan Alda, Neil Simon.

Please like, subscribe, and leave a review. For inquiries about future episodes, or to be featured in our next season, please e-mail [email protected]

Genia Michaela:  ⁨@geniababy⁩
Kenny Hargrove: @Kenny_hargrove
 ⁨@KennyHargroveFilms⁩  

Support the show

Please like and subscribe. The Breaking Indie Podcast can be found on Spotify, Apple Music, Soundcloud, and Youtube.