By Ninth Way Media
Hollywood secrets... anonymously told.
"You'll never work in this town again."
For decades, those words -- or the sentiment behind them -- have cloaked all manner of evil in th
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The podcast currently has 45 episodes available.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
“The only thing that works to take down abusers is Mo Ryan writes something about them."
If we weren’t already on fire to talk with the author of Burn It Down: Power, Complicity, and a Call for Change in Hollywood, this quote from a confessor would have set us aflame. This week we get our chance, as entertainment journalist Maureen “Mo” Ryan steps into the confessional booth.
Mo is a Contributing Editor at Vanity Fair, and has written for Entertainment Weekly, the New York Times, EW, Salon, GQ, and Vulture. She has spent much of the last decade writing in-depth pieces on matters of inclusion, misconduct and abuse in Hollywood -- and on efforts to make the industry better.
Join us for an eye-opening conversation as Mo unpacks the complex web of power dynamics in Hollywood, the need for a safe and empowering space for marginalized voices to be heard, and what makes her hopeful for the future of the entertainment industry.
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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
"I love writers. But if there's one thing my mom taught me, it's if you love something make it suffer."
With that tweet, the parody account that slayed with truth and laughs during the 2023 Hollywood labor strikes was born. And so was the question, "Who is Fake Carol?"
This week, the writer behind @itsmecarolamptp joins us in the booth to give us an answer. From their initial inspiration to the account going "Hollywood viral," they share how their satirical portrayal of the studios' lead negotiator caught fire, and even managed to fool a few journalists during the strike.
Our guest also opens up about the emotional rollercoaster of being "Fake Carol" while struggling in their real life. Through their personal journey, they highlight the profound importance of community and hope in sustaining a creative career. Join us in the booth for laughs and inspiration as we relive this cultural moment through the words of the real-life person who made it happen.
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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
Scam artists steal dreams. We're finding ways to get payback.
In this incendiary episode of the Hollywood Confessional, we hear from an aspiring writer who pursued a seemingly great opportunity: taking a class from a mentorship program, the stated goal of which was to help underrepresented voices get into the industry. The first thing they learned? Some so-called "mentors" can't be trusted.
Red flags abound in this story of a dream gone wrong... but so do glimmers of hope. Ultimately our confessor realizes they've been conned out of their intellectual property, but is it too late to do anything about it?
Join us for a discussion on industry scams, how to avoid them, and what you can do if you find yourself caught in one. Spoiler: The answer is definitely NOT slashing tires.
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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
To be or not to be... naked?
That is the question faced by our confessor this week: an up-and-coming actor who had to make a difficult decision about his career.
Join us in this week's episode of the Hollywood Confessional as we hear from this fearless creative who was up for anything... until "anything" became a bit too much.
We discuss:
Special shout out to our voice actor Cody Vaughn for chatting with us after the episode, and to all our Hollywood Faithful who are currently facing tough choices.
Let us know about them in the comments or send us a DM @fessuphollywood! We'd love to hear your thoughts on the show and how you feel about the hard decisions you've made in Hollywood.
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Check out some of our favorite shows:
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! Today we've got an on the record interview with Liz Hsiao Lan Alper and Alex Rubin of Pay Up Hollywood.
Pay Up Hollywood began as grassroots movement in 2019, in an attempt to bring attention to the pay inequities, abuses and struggles of many Hollywood assistants. In subsequent years, PayUpHollywood has campaigned for Hollywood studios and companies to pay support staffers a living wage, in an effort to both tear down the paywall that keeps historically underprivileged voices out of the industry and to ensure current support staff can afford to work in their current position. PayUpHollywood aims to provide resources and aid to current entertainment support staffers as well as ongoing data and information about entertainment support staffers to other groups and companies who want to be part of the solution.
You can find more information on their website payuphollywood.com or on their socials, @payuphollywood for X (fka Twitter) and @payup.hollywood on Instagram.
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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
Imagine you're working your ass off for a thankless 60+ hours a week job on a TV show, and you discover everyone else in your position is making more than you.
PS, they're all men. And you're the only woman.
In this week's episode of the Hollywood Confessional, we hear a confession from an office production assistant who found herself in this very dilemma.
"When I was handed all of the pay cards with everybody's rates on them for
that week, it happened that the card on top was another production assistant.
And when I looked at his card –- not trying to look, but in receiving something, one
must look at it -- I realized he was getting paid $50 more a week than me."
Awareness leads to action in this inspiring story from a PA who found the courage to confront her boss and demand fair pay... despite the very real fear that doing so could end her career.
"I was really scared. I feel scared even just describing this story to you. Because think about what this guy could do to me, you know? He could make it so I could never work in this town again."
We get into the dangers of taking a stand when you feel like you have no power, and the calculated risks that come with following your beliefs. Finally, we discuss what entertainment industry workers can do to protect themselves in similar pay gap situations.
Spoiler... sometimes these stories have a happy ending.
Connect with us:
Check out some of our favorite shows:
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
The podcast currently has 45 episodes available.
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