Original Recording Date: July 17, 2024
In this episode, we dive into the world of voiceover artistry with Simone Serra, a seasoned performer who has mastered the art of storytelling to elevate brand messages with authenticity and impact. With over 20 years of acting experience and five years in the voiceover industry, Simone shares how she keeps a pulse on what’s trending, marketable, and memorable in today’s competitive landscape. Her expertise has earned the trust of top brands like Samsung, "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert," and Ulta Beauty. Join us as we explore Simone’s collaborative approach to delivering broadcast-ready audio and how her fun, positive attitude makes the creative process both enjoyable and successful. This episode is perfect for anyone interested in the craft of voiceover and the intersection of creativity and commerce.

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Original Recording Date: July 8, 2024
In this captivating episode of "Breaking the Biz," the hosts explore the storied career of Mark McKenna, a comic book creator with 38 years of experience at the helm of some of the most iconic titles in the industry. With nearly 1,000 comics to his name and over 12,000 pages showcasing his ink work, Mark has left an indelible mark on both Marvel and DC Comics, contributing to legendary series such as The X-Men, Spider-Man, Batman, and The Justice League.

The episode delves into Mark's extensive portfolio, including his contributions to major projects like the PACIFIC RIM movie prequel and Dark Horse Comic’s Star Wars: The Old Republic. Listeners will gain insight into his creative process, the evolution of the comic book industry, and his passion for storytelling that extends into his children’s book series, Banana Tail and Friends. Mark also shares the inspiration behind his Sci-Fi/Horror mini-series COMBAT JACKS and offers advice to aspiring creators looking to leave their own mark on the world of comics.

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Original Recording Date: 7/2/24
This episode features Sam Pagan, an accomplished artist in the animation industry who brings blockbuster worlds to life through lighting and compositing. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Sam's deep connection to nature and love for adventure have shaped his creative approach, infusing his work with dynamic, action-packed visuals.

With a portfolio that includes popular animated shows such as the rebooted Rugrats, Star Trek: Prodigy, and the Emmy-nominated Fantomville, as well as live-action films like Polaroid (2019), Sam has made a significant impact across various media industries. In addition to his professional work, Sam hosts a podcast where he shares valuable insights and advice for aspiring artists in the field. Tune in to learn about Sam’s creative journey, his passion for adventure, and his dedication to mentoring the next generation of animation professionals.

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Marc Andrew Sánchez hails from Yuma, Arizona, where growing up on the border profoundly influenced his perspective, straddling the cultural divide as a Mexican-American. He graduated from UCLA with a Masters in Fine Arts focus Animation production (2022). Under the mentorship of animation luminaries like Charles Sheetz, Mark Kirkland, Aaron Ehasz, and Jorge Gutierrez, all acclaimed for their Emmy and other prestigious awards, Marc’s artistic journey blossomed.

Distinguished as the first ever animation directing student nationwide to be a recipients of the National Hispanic Foundations for the Arts Grant (2020), established by Jimmy Smits, Esai Morales, Felix Sanchez, and Merel Julia, Marc is driven by a passion to empower young adults by addressing their past traumas through his storytelling. With a vision to connect with the Latino community, Marc draws from his upbringing and previous experience as a high school educator to infuse authenticity into his narratives, aspiring to ignite the imaginations of future generations. Marc Sanchez is also the first to teach Latinx Animation History at UCLA in the Chicana/o and Central American Studies program and is an instructor at Exceptional Minds (a animation school for students on the Autism Spectrum.)

Identifying as an artist and writer under the moniker “GIVE.ME.MÁS,” Marc aims to broaden the audience’s appreciation for Latin Anime, weaving cultural richness into his creations.

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In this episode of "Breaking the Biz," we sit down with the incredibly talented Jazzy Frizzle, a versatile voice-over artist with a rich background in ADR, commercial, animation, and video game voice-over work. Jazzy shares her journey into the world of voice acting, discussing how she breathes life into products, characters, and stories across various media. From podcasts and commercials to animation, mobile games, and audiobooks, Jazzy's experience is as diverse as it is inspiring. Tune in to learn about the nuances of voice-over training, the challenges and rewards of the industry, and how Jazzy advocates for the representation and empowerment of black voices.

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In this episode of "Breaking the Biz," we sit down with the legendary Jacqui Pitman from Pitman Casting. With a career spanning decades, Jacqui has become a powerhouse in the world of Reality Casting, known for her ability to spot and nurture talent for Nationwide Competitive Reality Shows, Docu-series, Occupational Casting, In-studio Game Shows, Dating Shows, Host and Corporate Videos, Promotional projects, and Commercial Casting.

Jacqui opens up about her journey, sharing the challenges and triumphs of working in the fast-paced entertainment industry. She also discusses her commitment to championing diversity and empowering individuals with disabilities, ensuring they have a voice and presence in the media.

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Join us for an exclusive conversation with three-time Emmy® nominated Music Supervisor Robert Rudkin, who has over 16 years of experience in seamlessly linking music to picture. Our guest excels in navigating the fast-paced world of content production, executing a wide range of media projects from initial concept to final product. Discover how they manage multiple projects simultaneously while leading creative teams to reach their full potential.

In this episode, we delve into the intricacies of music supervision and the critical role it plays in media production. Robert shares his expertise in commercial music clearance, business development, operations management, and team building. Learn about the strategies behind sonic branding, original score production, and music rights management. This episode also covers the essential aspects of music publishing and copyright, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the end-to-end client experience in the music supervision industry.

Tune in to gain valuable insights from an industry leader who thrives in the intersection of creativity and business, ensuring that every project resonates with audiences through the power of music.

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Original Recording Date: June 12, 2024

Jason Wolk was born and reared in The Bronx, NY before transplanting to Los Angeles to graduate from University of Southern California. Wolk is a product of an attorney and schoolteacher which helped mold his ability to multitask, prioritize and educate at the same time.   ‍

Wolk is a natural born leader, and he does it with his heart and ethics. Currently he is a member of the AICP Board of Directors, Advisory Board member of the Commercial Diversity Director’s Program (CDDP) and a member of the Television Academy, as well as a member of the Director’s Guild of America (DGA).

He had spent sixteen years line producing commercials and overseeing the launch and management of advertising production companies. Preceding that Jason was a producer of motion pictures. With a vast client list and a history of delivering A-list work for almost every major agency in the USA, Spears & Arrows has the foundation of his 16-year-old production service company and Wolk’s illustrious career of having produced hundreds of commercials all over the globe. ‍  ‍

Wolk is married to Dina and has two sons, Lucas and Dylan, the youngest of the two has Special Needs. Wolk is committed to creating awareness of Autism as it affects both youths and adults. He is an active founding chairperson and Board Member of a nonprofit organization called A Walk On Water which provides surf therapy for children with Special Needs. Wolk loves baseball, basketball, tennis, motorcycles, fruit, veggies and chocolate.

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Original Recording Date: June 11, 2024

After ascending the corporate ladder in his family's South Florida car business, Dave Williamson discovered a passion for making his customers smile, but found true fulfillment in making them laugh.

Since then, he has excelled in nearly every major domestic comedy festival, consistently reaching the finals or earning "Best of The Fest" honors at events such as the World Series of Comedy, Boston Comedy Festival, San Francisco Comedy Competition, Big Sky Comedy Festival, the SLO Comedy Festival, among others.

Following his recognition as “Best Comedian in Miami” by the Miami New Times, Dave packed up his family into a 25-foot travel trailer and embarked on a North American tour, eventually settling in Los Angeles after 18 months on the road. This journey was captured in a series of shorts produced by Nickelodeon.

Dave continues to tour extensively, headlining his own shows and supporting Bert Kreischer in performances at prestigious venues like the historic Greek Theater, The Grand Ol' Opry, and Red Rocks. His latest album, “Trying My Hardest,” recently released by Stand Up! Records, quickly climbed to #1 on the iTunes Charts for Comedy. Dave often evokes the image of a quintessential dad at the grill on Football Sundays, passionate about BBQ, and he shares his enthusiasm through his podcast “Meat Dave.” Additionally, he co-hosts a comedy podcast with fellow waterman, comedian, and friend Forrest Shaw.

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Original Recording Date: June 6, 2024

Marissa Tomas Main is originally from Burbank, California and graduated from University of California Santa Barbara with a BA in Economics with an emphasis in Accounting. After college, she worked as an assurance associate (AKA an Auditor) for an Accounting firm in LA. During her course of auditing, she enjoyed working with her Entertainment clients and decided her path to Finance in the Entertainment field.

She is currently working at Disney as a Director of Post Production Finance and specialized in VFX and Post Production. Some of the movies she worked on are Avatar the Way of the Water, Alice Through the Looking Glass, The Amazing Spider-Man, Edge of Tomorrow, Oz the Great and Powerful, Green Lantern, Valkyrie, Speed Racer and many more films.

Join our conversation on social media:

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Interested in being a guest speaker? [email protected]