Hollywood Confessional

There's no shortage of spooky stories in the weird and wonderful world of Hollywood. This week, we've got two confessions for you. The first is a nightmare pitch session that turns into a dream as our confessor watches his partner take down an old-school creep in front of his assistants. Next up, a Halloween party at a world-famous studio becomes a horror show when a powerful executive makes his staff dress up as racial stereotypes. Join us!

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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

Imagine being fired because your bosses are having an affair... and you let slip that you're cool with it. This week on the Hollywood Confessional, we delve into power dynamics in the writers' room, as a financial advisor-turned-writer gets caught in the web of a workplace romance. When our confessor attempts to "go along to get along," they end up in their bosses' crosshairs. Our guest shares their experience of being let go for political reasons, and advice for others who might find themselves in similar situations. Don't miss this insightful 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

One of the biggest fears nearly all workers share in the entertainment industry? Being replaceable. Join us this week for two confessions in which Hollywood hopefuls discover just how replaceable they are... and what they can do about it. First up, an actor auditions for four separate roles in a film before being hired in a fifth role and asked to give acting lessons to the person who got the lead. Next, an aspiring film composer  peels back the curtain on film and television composing, revealing the machine behind The Man.

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

Are you putting on a happy face and doing what everyone else wants instead of pursuing your own dreams in Hollywood? Do your dedication and people-pleasing make you a target for bullies?

Welcome back to the confessional booth! This week, we explore the struggles of navigating the entertainment industry without connections and share powerful stories of resilience and strength from two up-and-comers who had to learn to set their own boundaries.

In "Resting Smile Face," we hear from a confessor who knew what they wanted but felt pressured to conform to others' expectations. In "The Method," an aspiring actor reveals their twisted experience with the Meisner method and a teacher who used it to abuse some of his students... especially women. Listen in as we examine the difficulties of finding work in the industry, the feeling of insignificance amidst cutthroat competition, and the importance of believing in yourself.

Remember: having a strong support system is key to success in Hollywood. So hit that subscribe button, follow us @fessuphollywood on Twitter and Instagram, and join us for another insightful and inspiring episode of The Hollywood Confessional.

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

Ever felt stranded in a miserable work environment created by a toxic boss? Join us this week as we share two more jaw-dropping tales from the heart of Hollywood, where power dynamics can be twisted and manipulative. Listen in as we reveal a former PA's confession about a film shoot gone horribly wrong, and how a CEO's bizarre tactics led another support staffer to get revenge.

Our stories serve as a reminder of the importance of standing up for yourself in a competitive industry. We discuss how to recognize your own value in the face of adversity and how to find your voice in a world that may not want to hear it. As two people trying to make Hollywood a happier place, we share advice on using your power to make a difference and create a more just and equitable industry.

Don't miss out on this gripping episode filled with revenge stories, power plays, and valuable insights. And celebrate with us as we honor those who are using their power to make a difference and reshape the entertainment industry. Tune in now and get ready to be both shocked and inspired!

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

What would you do if a seemingly perfect job opportunity turned out to be an unsettling experience where you became a witness to a potential crime?

This week on Hollywood Confessional, we're joined by an anonymous guest who shares their chilling tale of trying to break into the world of entertainment writing... at a minimum wage job with a title that might be too good to be true.

Our guest takes us into the bizarre and eerie world of a violent-tempered publisher they call "Toenail Guy." From working in his creepy mausoleum-like house in the Hollywood Hills, to bringing in two beautiful women who mysteriously disappeared, our confessor reveals the literal dark side of the entertainment industry. We explore the fear of speaking up when things go awry and the significance of maintaining anonymity to protect those involved in this cutthroat business.

By the end of this stunning episode, you'll learn the importance of trusting your instincts and the valuable lessons that come with taking risks in Hollywood. Voice actors Claire Gruber and Austin Windham guide you through this twisting tale and remind us all that sometimes, we need to be our own advocate. Don't miss this eye-opening and spine-tingling Hollywood Confessional.

Connect with us:

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• Facebook
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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

In a world where Hollywood isn't just a neighborhood, but a universal concept, our Confessors confront the irony of their journey, as Confessor 1 is forced to assist an abusive and manipulative Eastern European oligarch's right-hand man, and Confessor 2 gets a job as a stand-in for a salad-throwing wannabe Hollywood big shot in Vancouver.

The Oligarch's Apprentice

"The #MeToo movement changed my life because it made me see that even if at some point [sexual harassment] was part of the job, it doesn't have to be that way in the future. And if we stand together and support each other, it won't be. There's strength in numbers. The power is on our side now."

Our first Confessor this week was hired as a producer's assistant at a large studio in Eastern Europe, but quickly realized that the VP was taking advantage of young women in the office. When she stood up to him, he reacted in a way she never expected... by throwing a full-on temper tantrum.

Confessor #2 also started off as an assistant to an abusive producer -- but her experience took place in Canada. What seemed like an incredible opportunity to break into TV writing turned into a nightmare when she got fired... only to be re-hired as a stand-in on the same producer's movies.

Horse Stand-In

"There is no better revenge than doing the thing you initially set out to do."

In this episode, we get into:

• How bad leadership creates a toxic environment
• Loyalty tests in Hollywood
• What to do when you have to stand in for a horse (WTF?!)

We then leave these tales of toxicity behind for a shoutout from one of our amazing voice actors to someone she thinks is making Hollywood a happier place... acting coach Lauren Patrice Nadler, who goes above and beyond to create a positive environment for training actors.

Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here!

Resources:

"SAG-AFTRA Just Made It Easier to Report Sexual Harassment in Hollywood" - By Laura Bradley, for The Daily Beast, Apr. 29, 2021

Other episodes we think you'll enjoy:

"Resting Smile Face" & "The Method" 

"Pitch This A*Hole" & "Halloween Party"

"

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

What happens when the production office of a reputable network TV show shares its studio space with a softcore porn production? Get ready to hear an absolutely wild tale of hijinks, hilarity, and unforgettable characters from this chaotic environment that will have you questioning everything you thought you knew about Hollywood.

We explore not just the outrageous moments, but also the valuable lessons learned about surviving a toxic work environment and the importance of being human to each other even in the highest-pressure situations. We also give a shout-out from comedy writer, actress, and producer Amy Baklini to one of her favorite people in the industry, indie film producer Matt Miller. Buckle up for this rollercoaster ride of an episode that's sure to leave you entertained and enlightened.

This episode is brought to you by THE RESTORER, a supernatural YA podcast in the Ninth Way Media family, available anywhere you get your podcasts!

The Restorer on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-restorer/id1621618762

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

Sometimes when you're in a toxic situation, you don't realize it until it's too late. Other times, you take that situation and work the shit out of it.

On this week's episode of the Hollywood Confessional, we have two confessions from entertainment industry newcomers who found themselves in abusive situations. And they have some serious words for their former bosses.

Find Me, Bitch!

"When you're in a vulnerable spot, you have to take a job and keep it by any means necessary."

Confessor 1 is a 22-year-old who rushed out of college and was struggling to find a job when their mom passed away. They  eventually found a production assistant job for a commercial production company. When it turned degrading, they found innovative ways to stay employed and get their revenge.

The Bleep Bleep Story

"When they announced the master class, it was like, Oh, this is the thing. [BLEEP BLEEP] is teaching it himself. This is going to be amazing. And I sort of naively expected that we were going to really workshop the scripts. I thought he was there to sort of, like, teach us his process. But I should have known better because the theme of the class… was sex scenes."

Confessor 2 is a 20-year-old aspiring screenwriter fresh out of suburbia. They were invited to take a free writing class at the studio of a famous multi-hyphenate. Despite  red flags, they went along with it and soon realized they'd been sucked into a wild and toxic scam.

In this episode, we get into the following:

• What is the reality of the entertainment industry like for those starting out?
• How do you identify red flags when you're pursuing a Hollywood opportunity?
• Why are people trying to break into the entertainment industry sometimes willing to overlook toxic behavior by people in charge?

We top it off with a shoutout to someone who is putting his career on the line to make Hollywood a happier place... the founder of Video Mantis, Thomas Popp. 

Love this episode? Rate and review it here! 

Other episodes we think you'll like:

• "The Can Lady" & "This Is a Man's World"
• "The Porn Car"
• "Stranded" & "The

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 to our first episode of the Hollywood Confessional!

In this week's episode, we hear confessions from two up-and-comers as they battle condescension, abuse, toxic work environments, and even a car crash on their journeys to gain respect and a foothold in the entertainment industry.

Can Lady

"I wanted to quit that job every single day. But I kept going, and that ended up bringing me on the career path that I'm on now. When you have a positive attitude and you're resourceful, you can really do anything." 

Our first confession, "Can Lady," tells the story of an office production assistant who, after being hired to pick up an actor for costume fitting, gets into a car accident in the parking lot! Later, their domineering boss, the "Can Lady," unceremoniously fires them in the midst of a national emergency. But amazingly, despite these insane setbacks, the Confessor finds a way to spin all this to their advantage.

It's a Man's World

"I always thought I was guilty until proven innocent. And even if I was innocent, it didn’t matter. I would always say to myself, 'Are your shorts too short? Are you resting in a sexy way?' I didn’t even realize that this was complete sexual harassment."

Confessor 2 is the only female on an all-male art department crew in "It's a Man's World," and they make her feel it. Despite working insane hours, taking on far more work than she's getting paid for, and putting up with aggressive sexual harassment, she doesn't get the credit she deserves. Instead, she gets falsely accused of stealing from the company... which leads her to a life-changing revelation.

These two amazing confessions get into the following:

• How to survive in Hollywood -- literally!
• How to tell the difference between legitimate job stress and abusive behavior
• How to turn a difficult job experience into a positive career move

Finally, we round out the episode with a shoutout to some people who are taking action to make Hollywood a happier place -- writer-producers Sam Ernst and Jim Dunn.

Love the episode? Leave us a review and rating here!

Other episodes we think you'll enjoy:

"The Oligarch's Apprentice" & "Horse Stand-In"

"Resting Smile Face" & "The Method"

"

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