***SERIES FINALE!***

Welcome back Hollywood Faithful, one last time! This week, we hear the magical, heartwarming tale of an actor who gets invited to a holiday party at a stunning A-lister's mansion... and then learns they have to perform! 

"There was a pool and music, and there was a dance floor and a deejay. There were pathways lit, and a tarot reader... a psychic medium... white-jacketed waiters, staff walking around with drinks and hors d’oeuvres... And about two hours into it, [BLEEP] gets up on stage and she says, 'All right, we're going to do a little contest.'"

Luckily our confessor knows how to improv! Through a night of twists, turns, and unexpected laughs, our confessor discovers that taking a risk and letting yourself have fun in Hollywood can lead to a magical happy ending.

"At that point, these two people came out in dinner jackets. And they
have these metal cases like Deal or No Deal – that show was hot back then. You would pick a case, and you’d open it, and it would tell you what the amount was. And you never knew. It could be $5. It could be $5,000. So these two people come up on stage and, you know, they're in front of the stage and they have the cases. And my buddy goes first and opens it up. And he goes, Oh my God..."

"You Never Know Who's Watching" is our final episode of the Hollywood Confessional. And with it, we want to say thank you to all of our listeners -- those who have been with us since the beginning, and all of you that we've met along the way. This has been an incredible journey. We love this show and the community we've built, and we are honored to have served as your podcast priests. 

We also want to thank our incredible cast and crew who made this show possible! We couldn't have done it without you. 

Please keep in touch with us on socials (find Meagan on Bluesky and J.R. on IG) and help us keep the faith as we all move forward into the new year and beyond. We look forward to continuing to make Hollywood a happier place with all of you!

Happy holidays and love to all,

Meagan & J.R.

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Check out some of our favorite shows:

• Screenwriters' Rant Room
• Screaming into the Hollywood Abyss
• It Happened in Hollywood
• The Secret History of Hollywood

Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal.

Sound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.

Keywords: filmmaking podcast, film podcast, screenwriting podcast, entertainment podcast, Hollywood, filmmaking, writerslife, actorslife, setlife

"When I first met him, I was like, this guy is going to be a fucking problem."

In Part 2 of our oral history "Portrait of a Survivor," we hear from a new perspective on an abusive Hollywood showrunner... that of his assistant's close friend.

"He has that cult leader personality, that sort of psychopath thing where he's very superficially charming. I know a lot of people with those personalities."

We hear how our confessor escaped the toxic situation with her friend's clear-eyed perspective and support. And we see how it all came roaring back to her years later, when she saw a warning on an assistant board against working with someone... and the subject line was her abuser's name.

"I think the initial email came out at like eight in the morning. By 10:30, there were like 15 more emails from different people, like, 'He's a terrorist.' 'He's the worst person I ever met.' All these people sharing their experiences. Then a reporter reached out to me asking for a comment."

As the confessor and her friend navigate the process of trying to go public about a powerful abuser in Hollywood, we're also joined by TV/film critic and journalist Maureen "Mo" Ryan. Mo has worked with countless survivors, especially for her book Burn It Down. In the process, she has found perspective... and even hope.

"Anyone, in any job, is often confused about what to do about a problematic situation. But in this industry, the disincentives are huge. And those have not really gone away... But many, many people have found a positive way forward from having come forward."

Join us for this powerful conclusion of "Portrait of a Survivor" to see how our confessor dealt with the fallout of abuse in her own life, and how she found the strength and support she needed to move on.

Connect with us:

• Instagram
• Facebook
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• Website

Check out some of our favorite shows:

• Screenwriters' Rant Room
• Screaming into the Hollywood Abyss
• It Happened in Hollywood
• The Secret History of Hollywood

Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal.

Sound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.

Keywords: filmmaking podcast, film podcast, screenwriting podcast, entertainment podcast, Hollywood, filmmaking, writerslife, actorslife, setlife

"These people are never going to have sharp claws and pointed teeth. They're going to look like your good friend. And they're mostly going to act like your good friend. And then every once in a while..."

In this episode of the Hollywood Confessional, two confessors from opposite ends of the Hollywood hierarchy share their stories of working with the same toxic man. Over the course of several years and multiple TV shows, they recall how the man they once admired as a leader revealed the monster within.

"You could see the rage radiating off him. He was a completely different person in that moment."

Our mission on this podcast has always been to make Hollywood a happier place by giving industry professionals a place to share their deepest, darkest secrets. And all too often, those secrets exist because abusers are in positions of power. 

In this two-part oral history, we explore how one particular abuser got into that position through lies, manipulation, and superficial charm. And through the voice of one of his victims, we hear how his abuse was reinforced by the system.

"He called the exec. And then he told me that what he said was, 'You're a nobody. He's not going to ask the showrunner to leave.'"

In part two, we'll see how even exposing an abuser in the media doesn't always fix the problem, and what one victim did after quitting the job to rebuild her life. We also pay homage to her and all the others who have gone through similar situations in the struggle to achieve their dreams.

Connect with us:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Website

Check out some of our favorite shows:

• Screenwriters' Rant Room
• Screaming into the Hollywood Abyss
• It Happened in Hollywood
• The Secret History of Hollywood

Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal.

Sound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.

Keywords: filmmaking podcast, film podcast, screenwriting podcast, entertainment podcast, Hollywood, filmmaking, writerslife, actorslife, setlife

Hippie chicks. Jam sessions. A bomb on wheels. In this quintessential "Hollywood coming of age" story, our confessor finds themselves in one wild situation after the next, starting with their cross-country road trip to LA.

"It was the middle of the desert. And it was the middle of the day. And we saw like a big, old pickup truck coming up behind us really fast. I can still picture it getting larger and larger in the rearview mirror. We barely had time to react before it rammed us from behind." 

 After miraculously surviving one near-death experience moving to town, our confessor soon found themselves in another while hustling as a production assistant on music videos.

Join us for a #TBT discussion of life in the early days of MTV, when rock bands would sometimes serenade crews and Kool-Aid was the most delicious drink ever. It's a story of resiliency and finding your way in this crazy industry... and it's also a damn good time!

Also be sure to check out the quick teaser of our upcoming oral history: Portrait of a Survivor at the end of the episode! 

Connect with us:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Website

Check out some of our favorite shows:

• Screenwriters' Rant Room
• Screaming into the Hollywood Abyss
• It Happened in Hollywood
• The Secret History of Hollywood

Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal.

Sound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.

Keywords: filmmaking podcast, film podcast, screenwriting podcast, entertainment podcast, Hollywood, filmmaking, writerslife, actorslife, setlife

Welcome back Hollywood Faithful! 

Surviving the emotional waves of Hollywood layoffs is no small feat. This week, our guest, a project manager in post-production localization, shares their story of how they watched as most of their team disappeared. 

Join us for an interesting conversation about the difficulty of survivor's guilt and the uncertainty of a volatile industry.

Connect with us:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Website

Check out some of our favorite shows:

• Screenwriters' Rant Room
• Screaming into the Hollywood Abyss
• It Happened in Hollywood
• The Secret History of Hollywood

Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal.

Sound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.

Keywords: filmmaking podcast, film podcast, screenwriting podcast, entertainment podcast, Hollywood, filmmaking, writerslife, actorslife, setlife

Why do some screenplays get green lit, while others never see the light of day?

Join us this week for some behind-the-scenes intel from a studio script reader, a self-described "first gatekeeper" who's been part of the process of getting stories from page to screen for over two decades.

"One of the first things you learn as a reader is, even on the worst script, you have to say something nice. And that is partly so the execs can get on the phone and have your coverage in their hands and be like, 'We really like the character of, uh... "Joe," but unfortunately we already have something similar in development.'"

We discuss the method behind the apparent Hollywood madness of what gets made, including how some scripts improve through the development process, while others end up getting... ugh... "noted to death."

"I've seen stuff in development where it was like, there was something special about this script, and you killed it."

Listen in to hear stories of how films you've definitely heard of made it from the reader's desk to the screen... including one that almost didn't. And hear how our confessor stumbled onto this hard-to-find career path... and discovered, against all odds, that it was actually their dream job.

Have you had experience as a Hollywood script reader? Confess! Send us a DM @fessuphollywood or leave us a comment. We'd love to hear from you!

Connect with us:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Website

Check out some of our favorite shows:

• Screenwriters' Rant Room
• Screaming into the Hollywood Abyss
• It Happened in Hollywood
• The Secret History of Hollywood

Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal.

Sound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.

Keywords: filmmaking podcast, film podcast, screenwriting podcast, entertainment podcast, Hollywood, filmmaking, writerslife, actorslife, setlife

Trigger Warning: Self-harm and drug use.

We all know how hard it is to land a job in this industry, but what about how hard it is to fire someone... even when they deserve it?

In this week's episode, we hear from a confessor who was an executive producer on a 20-episode order of a first-season show. The challenges they faced just to run the room and keep good scripts coming on time were compounded exponentially by a writer who disrupted the room at every turn.

September 29th, appeared visibly intoxicated while working in the room.

October 5th, he was rolling a Swiss Army knife around on his knuckles with the blade out while appearing to be under the influence.

October 25th, he left over an hour early without telling anyone.

11/11, an unidentified pill was found outside his office.

Incredibly, these and many more infractions weren't enough to convince HR to take action. It was up to our confessor to find a way to manage the problem, all while running a TV show, dealing with the writer's mental health issues, and taking care of their own.

Join us for a discussion on firing and being fired, how to cope with toxic behavior in the workplace, and why we absolutely must destigmatize mental health care to make Hollywood a happier place.

Connect with us:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Website

Check out some of our favorite shows:

• Screenwriters' Rant Room
• Screaming into the Hollywood Abyss
• It Happened in Hollywood
• The Secret History of Hollywood

Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal.

Sound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.

Keywords: filmmaking podcast, film podcast, screenwriting podcast, entertainment podcast, Hollywood, filmmaking, writerslife, actorslife, setlife

How do you pursue a career in an industry where even your "advocates" are keeping you down?

That's the story of this week's confessor, a voiceover actor who successfully navigates many typical obstacles to a creative career, only to discover their agent is stealing from them.

As they try to figure out what to do about it, our confessor learns how to be their own best advocate and learns some fantastic tips for up-and-comers in all arenas. Join us for a discussion of what it's really like to work behind the mic, and how to speak out for yourself no matter what challenges the industry throws your way.

Connect with us:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Website

Check out some of our favorite shows:

• Screenwriters' Rant Room
• Screaming into the Hollywood Abyss
• It Happened in Hollywood
• The Secret History of Hollywood

Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal.

Sound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.

Keywords: filmmaking podcast, film podcast, screenwriting podcast, entertainment podcast, Hollywood, filmmaking, writerslife, actorslife, setlife

Hello Hollywood Faithful! Welcome back to another episode of the Hollywood Confessional, the podcast where industry professionals share their deepest, darkest, most insane Hollywood stories. 

This week we have a story about an editor getting their first union job, and the boss that made them question whether or not they wanted to spend their time making someone else's dreams come true. 

Balancing a demanding career with a personal life is tough in any industry, but Hollywood presents its own unique challenges. We explore the burnout from long hours and the frustration that comes from witnessing problematic behavior glamorized. Don't miss this candid and inspiring discussion that sheds light on the flexibility and self-discovery inherent in the gig-based nature of editing.

Connect with us:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Website

Check out some of our favorite shows:

• Screenwriters' Rant Room
• Screaming into the Hollywood Abyss
• It Happened in Hollywood
• The Secret History of Hollywood

Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal.

Sound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.

Keywords: filmmaking podcast, film podcast, screenwriting podcast, entertainment podcast, Hollywood, filmmaking, writerslife, actorslife, setlife

How far would you go to make a movie? This week's confessor had to face that question within minutes of taking a gig co-producing an indie film... and personally, we're still recovering 😩😩😩

Sweet-talking property managers, hustling for food donations, and petting cockroaches (😱) is just the beginning. When our confessor learns they need an extra $10K for post-production, they set out on a high-stakes mission to find investors in, shall we say, unexpected places.

"I started thinking. Who do I know who has cash on hand and might be willing to take on this kind of risk? I thought of these two guys I know. Two brothers. They were business owners, gamblers. Maybe they were the type of guys I was looking for."

An "only-in-Hollywood" moment ensues as our confessor tries to get that bag and realizes they've gone a little farther than they intended to. But will it all be worth it in the end? Check out the episode to find out and let us know @fessuphollywood how far you've gone to make your filmmaking dreams come true!

#filmmaking #indiefilm #fessuphollywood

Connect with us:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Website

Check out some of our favorite shows:

• Screenwriters' Rant Room
• Screaming into the Hollywood Abyss
• It Happened in Hollywood
• The Secret History of Hollywood

Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal.

Sound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.

Keywords: filmmaking podcast, film podcast, screenwriting podcast, entertainment podcast, Hollywood, filmmaking, writerslife, actorslife, setlife