FlavRReport

In this AFM 2025 conversation, director Christine Lakin and producer Alexandra Engelson break down I Won’t Dance—a coming-of-age ballroom romance set to shoot in the Canary Islands with serious crossover appeal for theater lovers and dance fans.

We dig into Christine’s journey from Step by Step to award-winning director, why ballroom is the perfect “bougie sport” for this story, how Gen Z dance culture and TikTok strategy, with responsible financing, strong tax incentives.

Welcome & AFM 2025 Setup

Why we’re talking to filmmakers, directors, financiers and investors about why film production can be a smart, disciplined investment.

0:37 – Meet Director Christine Lakin

Airport recognition, ’90s nostalgia, and how Step by Step still lives rent-free in people’s memories.

1:20 – From TGIF Star to Director

Christine’s evolution: acting, choreography as a “side hustle,” theater as “church,” and the epiphany that led her to directing.

3:22 – Training Ground: TV vs. Features

What fast-paced TV taught her about time management, improvisation, collaboration, and staying “overly prepared” on set.

5:24 – What I Won’t Dance Is Really About

The pitch: YA coming-of-age rom-com, sports movie, ballroom drama—with that love-hate “will they/won’t they” spark.

6:37 – Beyond Dance: Family, Legacy & Identity

How Elena and Xavier’s stories reflect class, privilege, pressure, and the journey to finally be yourself.

9:15 – Bougie, But Make It Real

Ballroom as a “bougie sport,” and why chefs, winemakers, restaurateurs and mixologists will feel seen by the grind behind the glamour.

11:21 – Why the Canary Islands?

Introducing partner Hula Hoop, using one region for a “small U.S. town” and Vegas, plus the practical magic of incentives and locations.

13:15 – Creative Process & Scouting

How Christine plans shots, trusts her instincts, and turns locations into character—even last minute.

15:00 – Message to the Canary Islands

Excitement, early buzz, friends begging to be “packed in her suitcase,” and the anticipation of working with Spanish and local crews.

16:01 – Enter Producer Alexandra Engelson

Alexandra joins to explain why the story is universal, why dance is for everyone, and how accessibility is built into the film’s DNA.

17:20 – Universality, Comfort & Rewatch Value

Why this film is designed to be rewatched, to feel like “home,” and to make ballroom relatable for people who don’t own $2,000 dresses.

18:00 – Dance as Therapy & Universal Language

Why when words fail, we sing—and when singing fails, we dance. Movement as emotion, joy, and a language without borders.

19:36 – Fitting the 2026 Global Market

Gen Z, TikTok, Dancing with the Stars numbers, and why a female-directed dance film hits the sweet spot.

20:31 – TikTok, Dentists & Dance Content

How dance videos dominate feeds, why TikTok is essential to the strategy.

21:46 – The Investment Pitch (Not Financial Advice)

Building a trilogy, responsible budgeting, using incentives, and diversifying with brand sponsorships to reduce risk.

22:59 – Cameos, Easter Eggs & Judges With Attitude

Fun ideas for high-profile cameos and the personality-driven judges become fan-favorite moments.

24:18 – Following the Journey

Where to follow: @ChristineLakinDirector and @MagicAndMoxieProductions on Instagram for updates, casting news, and behind-the-scenes.

#IWontDance #ChristineLakin #americanfilmmarket #AFM2025 #YAFilm #IndependentFilm #BallroomDancing #FilmInvestment #DancingWithTheStars #TikTokDance #CanaryIslands

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Step inside American Film Market (AFM) 2025, where deals get made and the future of entertainment takes shape.

In this exclusive conversation, Jeff Caruso, Senior Vice President of Sales and Success at Wrapbook, joins Daily Ovation’s Joe Winger to discuss how technology and AI are reshaping the business of filmmaking — from packaging to payback.

🎥 Learn how Wrapbook’s next-generation financial tools are helping producers, financiers, and line producers move faster, smarter, and more efficiently in a global marketplace.

“Technology is driving and redefining both how content’s made and what’s getting made right now,” says Caruso.

Get ready for insider insights, sharp humor, and the kind of flavor that only comes from people who live and breathe the business of storytelling.

👉 For filmmakers, investors, and anyone who believes creativity and capital can coexist beautifully.

Read more about Wrapbook and AFM here:

🌐 https://www.wrapbook.com/resources

⏱️ Chapters (Timestamps)

00:00 – Welcome to AFM 2025: The Business Behind the Movies

00:42 – Introducing Jeff Caruso, SVP of Sales & Success at Wrapbook

01:20 – “Where Capital Meets Commerce”: The Promise of AFM

02:15 – How Technology and AI Are Redefining Film Production

04:00 – The Antiquated Side of Hollywood Workflows

05:30 – Why Wrapbook Is Changing the Game for Filmmakers

07:05 – “AI Isn’t the Job — It’s the Tool for the Job”

08:45 – AFM Finance Panel: The Heavy Hitters You Need to Know

10:10 – How Wrapbook Helps Filmmakers Save Time and Money

11:40 – “Do More with Less” — The Reality of Film Production in 2025

13:00 – The Future of Film Financing and AI

14:20 – Final Thoughts: Possibility, Responsibility & Passion

#AFM2025 #AmericanFilmMarket #JeffCaruso #Wrapbook #FilmFinance #IndieFilm #Filmmaking #FilmInvestment #MovieBusiness #HollywoodTech #AIinFilm #FilmProducers #AFMLosAngeles #EntertainmentIndustry

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The On the Rocks documentary follows the rise, fall, and revival of Primadonna —the beloved Pittsburgh restaurant run by Joseph Costanzo Jr. at the center of Maria C. Palmer and Ruthie Robbins bestselling book. In this interview, they reveal how a chance radio encounter with director Ryan Rust (Venture Road Productions) led to cameras rolling, why Pittsburgh’s steel-mill soundstages and gritty streets double as cinematic gold, and how archival gems—like a former server’s vintage kitchen footage and classic commercials—anchor the film’s heart.

You’ll hear candid insights on funding, festivals, and translating hospitality to screen; how chef cousin Pino’s pasta-tossing energy shapes reenactments; and why service, storytelling, and community still matter. Expect hard-won advice for authors going from page to production, event playbooks from a 500-guest launch at the Heinz History Center, and the fun-loving spirit (yes, free zucchini) that made Primadonna a legend. #documentary #restaurantdocumentary #MariaCPalmer #JosephCostanzoJr #Pittsburghfilm

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The Return of Uncle Jerry’s Chocolate Pretzels — Handmade, Healthy, and Seriously Addictive

In this episode, welcome back Misty Skolnick from Uncle Jerry’s Handmade Pretzels — a family-run Lancaster County classic that’s been baking natural sourdough pretzels for 35+ years.

This time, Misty reveals the long-awaited comeback of their chocolate-covered pretzels — a seasonal fan favorite that’s only available from October to April. Made with premium Wilbur chocolate and Uncle Jerry’s all-natural sourdough base, these treats bridge the gap between candy indulgence and wholesome snacking.

They discuss:

The nostalgic story behind Uncle Jerry’s 100% natural pretzels

How chocolate season transforms Halloween and the holidays

Why these pretzels are healthier (and more satisfying) than typical candy

The five irresistible chocolate flavors you can try right now

🍫 Order yours at unclejerryspretzels.com

🎃 Celebrate fall the handmade way!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ready to level up your snack game? Discover why Uncle Jerry’s Handmade Sourdough Pretzels are the ultimate foodie obsession—from crunchy, low-salt twists to chocolate-drenched seasonal treats. Co-owner Misty Skolnick shares the family legacy behind these small-batch Pennsylvania pretzels that are clean, all-natural, and actually good for you.

🛒 Order now before they disappear: https://unclejerryspretzels.com

📲 Follow @UncleJerrysPretzels for flavor drops and insider pretzel perks!

👉 LIKE if you're a snack lover

👉 SUBSCRIBE for more gourmet taste tests

👉 COMMENT: Are you #TeamLowSalt or #ExtraDark?

#SourdoughPretzels #HealthySnacks #ArtisanFood #FoodieFinds #SnackReview #UncleJerrys #SmallBatchSnacks #CleanLabel #GourmetSnacks

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Date Night with the Ultimate Chick Flick CookBook from Richard S Sargent

Find Richard S Sargent previous book (The Horror Movie Night Cookbook) here: https://amzn.to/3F6PViiCan food and chick flicks actually teach us something?

Author Richard S. Sargent—known for his viral Horror Movie Night Cookbook—is back, but this time, he's swapping blood for bubbly romance with his newest creation: The Ultimate Chick Flick Cookbook. 💋🍿

In this fun and surprisingly heartfelt interview, Richard shares how his respect for romantic comedies was transformed through food, characters, and clever storytelling. From pasta-inspired passion to desserts that define "happily ever after," this cookbook isn’t just for date nights—it’s a love letter to a misunderstood genre.

🛒 Grab his horror cookbook here: https://amzn.to/3F6PVii

📖 Find the full chick flick story + recipes at:

👉 https://dailyovation.com

👉 https://nyc.flavrreport.com

👉 https://la.flavrreport.com

👉 https://vegas.flavrreport.com

📌 LIKE if you love rom-coms

💬 COMMENT your go-to date night dish

🔔 SUBSCRIBE for more delicious pop culture pairings

#ChickFlickCookbook #RichardSSargent #FoodieFun #DateNightRecipes #RomComAndChill #CookbookLaunch

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Nomadica Wines offers sparkling, rose, white, red and orange options -- both canned and bag in a box.

Nomadica Wines are sourced from vineyards with responsible farming practices and winemakers who engage in low intervention wine making.

Wine-lovers can be 100% confident you’re drinking serious sommelier-quality wine.

Something really cool about our wines is everything's practicing organic. No pesticides, no synthetic fertilizers, all of our wines are fermented dry. Naturally zero grams of sugar per serving. They have nice fruit notes, but none of the wines are sweet.

Crushable bright flavor. 

Across the gamut, our entire portfolio has a brightness and a freshness to it. All of our wines are like slightly aromatic because I love an aromatic variety, but part of the thought that we put behind the brand is that I wanted to take that sommelier curation and put it in the restaurant, on the retail shelf so that when you're serving Nomadica at your home, at parties and the beach, 99% percent of people will love it.

I'm doing the work on the back end on blending, sourcing, creating these flavor profiles that's really taking that wine experience, that decade plus of developing my own palette and giving it back to the consumer. 

Joe Winger: 

What are the best ways to follow your journey and to learn more about you?

Kristin Olszewski: 

You can buy Nomadica online and our new rosé yuzu spritz, which is delicious at www.ExploreNomadica.com.

And then our socials are at instagram.com/Nomadica

And if you want to follow me. I’m at instagram.com/Kristin__O.

Daily Ovation covers food, entertainment and travel around the country and the world. FlavRReport is our city-to-city section. Both magazines Editor-in-Chief is Joe Wehinger on IG and Twitter as Joe Winger.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alec Baldwin leads Oscar Worthy Cast in thriller "Crescent City" We talk with Filmmaker RJ Collins

Oscar nominee Alec Baldwin, Oscar nominee Terrence Howard, Esai Morales, Nicky Whalen star in this fast-paced thriller directed by RJ Collins.

When a small southern town is terrorized by a relentless serial killer everyone becomes a suspect… including local authorities. As the body count rises and the dark mystery deepens, the chief detective becomes haunted by the horrors of his past. Academy Award Nominee’s Terrence Howard and Alec Baldwin star in a mesmerizing crime thriller about what it costs to catch a killer.

Daily Ovation covers food, entertainment and travel around the country and the world. FlavRReport is our city-to-city section. Both magazines Editor-in-Chief is Joe Wehinger on IG and Twitter as Joe Winger.

Find the full story at:

https://dailyovation.com/

https://nyc.flavrreport.com/

https://la.flavrreport.com/

https://vegas.flavrreport.com/

https://dc.flavrreport.com/

https://philly.flavrreport.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alexander Seltzer ‘s horror short film “The Door” brings suspense and haunting performances to Holly Shorts

Synopsis: A year after their daughter’s disappearance, Kara and Felix struggle to move on in their own ways as their marriage falls apart around them. But when a mysterious door appears in her kitchen, Kara becomes obsessed with uncovering what lies behind it at any cost. Even as it threatens to reopen old wounds.

Alexander Seltzer:

I like to make movies about things that scare me typically. 

So with The Door, I’ve been terrified of becoming a parent; and parenthood in general. 

I really wanted to make a movie about that and exploring my fears and where they come from, but in an interesting, entertaining way. 

I wanted to ask the question of the audience, of myself, of whether or not: does parenthood transcend morality?

Ultimately, I hope that audiences come away watching the movie asking that question of themselves. 

Would they do anything different to what our lead Cara does at the end?

My website is just AlexanderSelzer.com 

But the best place to track me is Instagram: Alex_Seltzer. And my producer’s production company is BigPigCo. 

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Filmmaker Erin Gavin explores Love and Video Games with “Gaming For Love” See it at LA Shorts July 22.

“Gaming for Love” is a poignant narrative inspired by true events which follows the journey of Maisie, a young girl battling cancer, as she finds solace and strength in the world of online gaming.

“Gaming For Love” screens at LA Shorts Monday July 22.

Erin Gavin’s career has spanned over motion pictures, television series, theatrical

productions, print and live-action commercials.

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