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  

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

Recorded at the 2025 Santa Fe Film Festival, join host Brenden Roberts on an exploration through filmmaking and what it takes to break into the entertainment industry today. Buckle your seatbelts, because here’s another episode of Breaking Indie.

Don’t forget to subscribe. We NEED you support.

Krassimira Belev & Tony Belev, “The Therapy”

@thetherapy_film

@krassimira_belev

@bloodyxyz

RollynStafford.com

@RollyStafford

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Blake de Pastino is an award-winning actor, model, and co-creator of educational YouTube channels including Crash Course, SciShow, and PBS Eons, of which is also co-host. He has appeared in feature films including “The Fear of It,” “Slant Streets,” and “Blood for Dust,” as well as short films including “Come Out, Wherever You Are,” for which he has won multiple Best Actor awards, “Fracture,” for which he won Best Actor in the Montana 48 Hour Film Project and “Me, Myself & I,” for which he won Best Actor in the Wyoming 48 Hour Film Project. He works as an actor, advocate for disability rights, and educational content creator in Montana.

IG: @westerndigs

Dan Burns is an award-winning screenwriter, author, and independent filmmaker dedicated to telling character-driven stories that blend emotional depth with cinematic precision. His short film Come Out, Wherever You Are—adapted from his acclaimed story collection No Turning Back: Stories—has been an official selection at more than seventy festivals and has earned twenty-five awards, including Best Short Film, Best Screenplay, and Best Director. As the founder of 136 Productions, he develops original content for screen and stage, drawing on his experience as the author of seven books.

www.comeoutwhereveryouarefilm.com 

www.danburnsauthor.com

IG: DanBurnsAuthor

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In this episode we talk to Rodrigo Tactaquin and his work with the show Longmire as well as in part two, Claire Sandberg about her film “The Ramba Effect” winner of Best Documentary at The Santa Fe Film Festival.

The Ramba Effect follows the powerful and inspiring journey of Ramba, the last circus elephant in Chile, as she travels 2,550 miles to her new home at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil. After five decades of captivity, Ramba must summon extraordinary strength for one final quest: freedom. During her long journey by plane and truck, she faces daunting obstacles that test her spirit. Her story becomes a moving symbol of the broader fight for animal liberation, offering hope for all creatures still living in captivity. Intimate and profound, The Ramba Effect is a celebration of resilience, a protest against cruelty, and a tribute to the enduring spirit of a soul nearly forgotten by the world.

Pt. 1

Rodrigo Tactaquin  @rodrigotactaquin

Pt. 2

Claire Sandberg, The Ramba Effect  

www.therambaeffect.com 

IG: Claire.intheworld

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Eddie Velez (Traffic) talks about directing Target Jeremy and his strategy as a first time filmmaker. We also talk with Antonio Weiss who shares his journey with an upcoming film, and how he intends to make his next project in Paraguay.

Learn more about Target Jeremy at https://targetjeremy.com/

Recorded at the 2025 Santa Fe Film Festival, join host Brenden Roberts on an exploration through filmmaking and what it takes to break into the entertainment industry today. Buckle your seatbelts, because here’s another episode of Breaking Indie.

Don’t forget to subscribe. We NEED you support.

Follow our guests on Instagram at:

@weissfineartssantafe

Support the show

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Ep. 14 Zoe Dunay & Aris Federman

Meet the team behind the award winning film “Tin Soldiers” and Blue Oak Productions. In this fun and lively conversation, we talk about our mutual love for Christopher Nolan, the hometown of the atomic bomb (Los Alamos), and this charismatic couple’s journey into filmmaking. 

Winner of the Jury Award for Best Cinematography at the 2025 Santa Fe Film Festival, “Tin Soldiers” delves into the journey of a child navigating the complexities of mental health treatment at a time when he’s still discovering what ‘normal’ is.

Contacts available on Instagram and Linkedin:

Zoe Dunay IG @zoedunay

Aris Federman IG @arisfederman

Blue Oak Productions IG  @blueoakproductions

Please visit our youtube channel for more videos and be sure to like and subscribe. 

https://www.youtube.com/@BreakingIndie

Stream the video of this on YouTube:   https://youtu.be/pZltsDZdVoU

Support the show

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