Welcome to episode 32 of The First Act Break podcast, the show where we dive into the art, business, and hustle of breaking into the film industry, and help you build a career doing what you love. In this episode, Tribeca feature film director Chris Merola breaks down exactly how he made his first feature film Lemonade Blessing and premiered it at the Tribeca Film Festival. He shares the full journey: from writing the script, fundraising, building a team, and navigating indie production, to landing reps, taking meetings, and understanding today’s brutal distribution landscape. Whether you're an aspiring director, indie filmmaker, or USC film student, this deep-dive reveals the real strategies, risks, and mindset needed to make your first feature.