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* https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexanderle/

Kicking off 2025 with something different. We sit down with Anna and Leo, two fearless indie filmmakers who left Russia to pursue free expression, true art, and their Hollywood dreams. Their journey is anything but ordinary, and they’re carving an uncharted path to greatness.

Check out Anna and Leo's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@motionandsounds

Lets Connect!

* https://www.linkedin.com/in/annakadykova/

* https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonid-shmelkov-82932ba0/

Raw Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/JOgWqPbOVSE

00:00 Escaping Russia for Hollywood Dreams

01:12 Anna

04:36 Leo

07:19 Censorship in Russia

14:26 Getting Stuck in Sri Lanka

15:44 Countries With Big Independent Film Industries

19:29 Challenges Of Feature Film Funded by Russian Government

22:05 How Western People Perceive the War With Ukraine

24:53 Insider Insights On the War of Ukraine

27:56 What Would You Be Willing to Die For

28:40 Dying & Being Forgotten vs Being Remembered

32:37 Breaking Into the Film Industry

34:44 Contrarian Approach

37:28 Finding Authenticity In Your Own Voice

43:22 Forget the World Chaos By Surfing

45:29 Leaving the Sri Lankan Village

52:11 Re-doing the feature film

01:02:57 Most Ambitious Project

01:03:49 Blind Trust In Selling A Script

01:12:59 Balancing Art vs Commercial

01:14:19 Beginner's Mindset

01:15:46 Crisis As A Possibility & Thinking Big

01:23:13 Defining The Partnership