indie spunk: UNFILTERED

In this special LIVE episode, Izzy sits down with actress, writer, and creator, Marta Pozzan at Aviator Nation Dreamland in Malibu at the official indie spunk Podcast launch party to talk about the importance of female filmmakers. From her early days in Italy dreaming of moving to Los Angeles to be a filmmaker to what it’s like working with one of the top directors in the industry.

Marta and Izzy talk about what it’s actually like showing up and making your way in the industry, including:

— being unapologetic about your space in the industry

— trusting your instincts

— what they wish they would have known when first starting out

— finding confidence to be a director

— why spending time with other creators is important

Marta's independent short film, “Next One” dives deep into female abuse in the industry, and is featured on Alma Hare'l's platform Free The Work. The film was selected for several film festivals across the globe including: Holly Shorts Film Festival, New York International Women Festival, Paris Women Film Festival, International Diversity Film Festival, New York Tri-State Film Festival, Lisbon Film Festival, and many more. The film won Best Women Empowerment Film at Berlin Short Festival and Best Drama at Red Movie Awards. 

In addition to her own work, you can see Marta in “A Dark Foe” with Selma Blair, “No Way Out” with Maia Mitchell, and “From Scratch” with Zoe Saldana. In addition to being on the big screen, Marta is a sought-after fashion and beauty creator, most recently partnering with Gucci, Kenzo, Dior, Chopard, Bvlgari, Estee Lauder, Fendi, Marc Jacobs, and more. Her latest endeavors include leading a Ted Talk on the business of social media and writing about mental health on poosh.com. Marta has also appeared in commercials for brands like Samsung, Modelo, American Express, and many globally recognized brands.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

P.S. Wanna get be in the know of all things indie spunk? Sign up for our newsletter here and get your free Script-to-Screen Roadmap!

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Want more? Check out ⁠the indie spunk club⁠ for bonus content, pop-up workshops, networking, and more! And don’t miss all the content on IG (⁠@indiespunk⁠) and as always at ⁠indiespunk.com⁠

You can also hop into the full⁠ Crowdfund Hero⁠ course where you'll be guided to pitch, launch & raise funds with a magnetic campaign that builds your audience & dazzles the industry.

And if you’d like personalized 1-on-1 support from Izzy, you can apply for coaching & schedule a chat with her ⁠right here⁠.

In this episode, Izzy dives into the importance of casting in indie filmmaking – something that can make or break your film. From casting her first film with no knowledge of casting to getting confident with matching her actors to the tone of her films, Izzy gives practical and actionable tips for casting, including how to:

— identify qualities and talents you are looking for in your actors

— find actors who you vibe with & can naturally bring your characters to life

— learn how to identify chemistry between actors

— why diversity in your cast & crew is good for your film, and the world

— Plus I dove in to how to cast recognizable actors in your film!

Most of all, this episode is a practical guide to hiring actors who organically harmonize with the tone and texture of your film.

P.S. Wanna get be in the know of all things indie spunk? ⁠⁠Sign up for our newsletter here⁠⁠ and get your free Script-to-Screen Roadmap!

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Want more? Check out ⁠⁠⁠the indie spunk club⁠⁠⁠ for bonus content, pop-up workshops, networking, and more! And don’t miss all the content on IG (⁠⁠⁠@indiespunk⁠⁠⁠) and as always at ⁠⁠⁠indiespunk.com⁠⁠⁠/start-here

You can also hop into the full⁠⁠⁠ Crowdfund Hero⁠⁠⁠ course where you'll be guided to pitch, launch & raise funds with a magnetic campaign that builds your audience & dazzles the industry.

And if you’d like personalized 1-on-1 support from Izzy, you can ⁠⁠apply for coaching & schedule a chat with her ⁠right here⁠⁠⁠.

Ever wondered what it’s like to make a living as a TV comedy writer? Or be in the Writer’s Room for one of the most popular animated series’ on TV?

Izzy sits down with Writer + Comedian, Julia Prescott, to answer those questions and more – from learning how to advocate for yourself as you grow and evolve in the industry to figuring out how to trust your own voice and what your passionate about.

Julia’s credits include FOX, Netflix, Amazon, Disney, Nick, Cartoon Network, Dreamworks, Hasbro, BBC Kids and more. She's the creator of the hit Blackpills series starring Natalie Palamides, John Ennis, and Audrey Whitby. Together with Allie Goertz, she co-hosts the hit Simpsons podcasts, "Everything's Coming Up Simpsons!" and "Round Springfield" and has also co-authored the book, "100 Things Simpsons Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die."

Most recently, Julia wrote the "Treehouse of Horror" episode of The Simpsons 32nd season, which aired in October 2020.

Listen in to hear Julia’s story as well as specific tips and tricks to making it as a screenwriter, including:

— The power of free writing + figuring out your own writing process

— How to collaborate with people who understand your voice

— Being honest with yourself and what drives you

— Ways to reach out to reps in a way that they’ll actually respond

— Why being vocal about your passion will get you where you want to be

Julia is a voice to be reckoned with, so listen up!

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Round Springfield Episode with Matt Groening (Apple Podcasts or Spotify)

Julia’s Website

Julia’s Instagram

P.S. Wanna get be in the know of all things indie spunk? Sign up for our newsletter here and get your free Script-to-Screen Roadmap!

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Want more? Check out the indie spunk club for bonus content, pop-up workshops, networking, and more! And don’t miss all the content on IG (@indiespunk) and as always at indiespunk.com.

You can also hop into my full Crowdfund Hero course where you'll be guided to pitch, launch & raise funds with a magnetic campaign that dazzles industry & builds your audience.

And if you’d like personalized 1-on-1 support from Izzy, you can apply for coaching & schedule a chat with her right here.

In this episode, Izzy gets real about what it was like launching a podcast while also being a full time coach and filmmaker, and the mindset shifts that have come through the process. From having to postpone the launch to learning how to trust the support of others, Izzy goes behind the scenes of indie spunk, including:

— how to build a successful team around you

— the importance of having a greater purpose

— finding peace when things are out of your control

— learning to step into who you want to be

— accepting what life throws at you

Most of all, this episode is a reminder that the world needs our unique voices and creativity. We need your art to feel collective in our experience and to connect with one another.

P.S. Wanna get be in the know of all things indie spunk? ⁠⁠Sign up for our newsletter here⁠⁠ and get your free Script-to-Screen Roadmap!

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Want more? Check out ⁠⁠⁠the indie spunk club⁠⁠⁠ for bonus content, pop-up workshops, networking, and more! And don’t miss all the content on IG (⁠⁠⁠@indiespunk⁠⁠⁠) and as always at ⁠⁠⁠indiespunk.com⁠⁠⁠

You can also hop into the full⁠⁠⁠ Crowdfund Hero⁠⁠⁠ course where you'll be guided to pitch, launch & raise funds with a magnetic campaign that builds your audience & dazzles the industry.

And if you’d like personalized 1-on-1 support from Izzy, you can ⁠⁠apply for coaching & schedule a chat with her ⁠right here⁠⁠⁠.

How do I gain support as an emerging director, producer, or screenwriter? Should I get a producer on the team? What to the Sundance Labs look for and how to they support talent?

If you’ve found yourself laying in bed at 3am pondering these kinds of questions, listen up as Izzy chats with Lauren Lukow – Producer & Sundance Managing Director. As the Manager of Creative Producing and Artist Support for the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program, Lauren focuses on discovering and nurturing emerging independent producers, screenwriters, and directors. Previously, Lauren has held positions at Pixar Animation Studios, the Virginia Film Festival, Arvold Productions, and Mockingbird Pictures.

As an independent producer, Lauren's projects have been screened at festivals all over the world including the Sarasota Film Festival, Pan African Film Festival, Santa Fe Independent Film Festival, Chandler International Film Festival, and NewFilmmakers LA Film Festival.

Listen in to hear Lauren’s story as well as specific tips and tricks to get your film seen by festivals, including:

— Treating producing like you are the CEO of a startup

— How to share your vision in order to make personal connections

— Remembering that one rejection doesn’t equal all-time rejection

— Viewing time as a finite resource + knowing how to use it effectively

— Why choosing to direct may be an important career move

Lauren is a pro at developing emerging filmmakers, so listen up!

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Dear Producer

Sundance Collab

P.S. Wanna get be in the know of all things indie spunk? ⁠⁠Sign up for our newsletter here⁠⁠ and get your free Script-to-Screen Roadmap!

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Want more? Check out ⁠⁠⁠the indie spunk club⁠⁠⁠ for bonus content, pop-up workshops, networking, and more! And don’t miss all the content on IG (⁠⁠⁠@indiespunk⁠⁠⁠) and as always at ⁠⁠⁠indiespunk.com⁠⁠⁠

You can also hop into the full⁠⁠⁠ Crowdfund Hero⁠⁠⁠ course where you'll be guided to pitch, launch & raise funds with a magnetic campaign that builds your audience & dazzles the industry.

And if you’d like personalized 1-on-1 support from Izzy, you can ⁠⁠apply for coaching & schedule a chat with her ⁠right here⁠⁠⁠.

Scrappy, resourceful, messy, go-getter – all words used to describe indie filmmakers. But what does it actually take to get your projects made + meet your vision? In this episode, Izzy talks about what it means to be a resourceful indie filmmaker and what you can do to uplevel your filmmaking career, including: 

— Creating accountability for yourself to hit your goals

— Focusing on creativity and innovation vs. a massive budget

— Setting the tone for your films so that everyone feels comfortable on set

— Using your connections to work with people you trust

— Staying persistent in your vision

Most of all, Izzy shares how to shift your mindset to view filmmaking as a classroom and learn through the creative process to hit your biggest goals.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

P.S. Wanna get be in the know of all things indie spunk? ⁠⁠Sign up for our newsletter here⁠⁠ and get your free Script-to-Screen Roadmap!

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Want more? Check out ⁠⁠⁠the indie spunk club⁠⁠⁠ for bonus content, pop-up workshops, networking, and more! And don’t miss all the content on IG (⁠⁠⁠@indiespunk⁠⁠⁠) and as always at ⁠⁠⁠indiespunk.com⁠⁠⁠

You can also hop into the full⁠⁠⁠ Crowdfund Hero⁠⁠⁠ course where you'll be guided to pitch, launch & raise funds with a magnetic campaign that builds your audience & dazzles the industry.

And if you’d like personalized 1-on-1 support from Izzy, you can ⁠⁠apply for coaching & schedule a chat with her ⁠right here⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode, Izzy dives into Part 2 of how the hell she ended up here as an award winning indie filmmaker, actor, career coach, and CEO of indie spunk – from almost quitting acting to getting her first short film into Australia’s largest short film festival, listen in to hear the second part of Izzy’s independent filmmaking journey, including:

— why she wanted to quit acting

— how she decided to go to film school

— when she realized she was meant to be a director

— starting fresh in a new country

— what pushed her to become a coach for emerging filmmakers

Most of all, this episode is Part 2 of the unconventional, yet relatable journey, of a filmmaker. Join Izzy on this journey of self-discovery and creating your own work as a filmmaker, or actor – or both!

P.S. Wanna get be in the know of all things indie spunk? ⁠Sign up for our newsletter here⁠ and get your free Script-to-Screen Roadmap!

--------

Want more? Check out ⁠⁠the indie spunk club⁠⁠ for bonus content, pop-up workshops, networking, and more! And don’t miss all the content on IG (⁠⁠@indiespunk⁠⁠) and as always at ⁠⁠indiespunk.com⁠⁠

You can also hop into the full⁠⁠ Crowdfund Hero⁠⁠ course where you'll be guided to pitch, launch & raise funds with a magnetic campaign that builds your audience & dazzles the industry.

And if you’d like personalized 1-on-1 support from Izzy, you can ⁠apply for coaching & schedule a chat with her ⁠right here⁠⁠.

How often do we hear the phrase: start before you’re ready? How on earth are we actually supposed to do that, especially when it feels like us creatives have so much on the line? On today’s episode of the indie spunk podcast, Izzy dives deep into what starting before you’re ready actually looks like, including:

— Finding clarity in order to take action

— Setting the tone of your project as the creator

— Treating the process like a classroom instead of a make or break moment

— Using crowdfunding as a powerful marketing tool

— Pitching for a greater purpose rather than for yourself

Most of all, Izzy shares the difference between successful people and those who never quite make their dreams a reality.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Indie Spunk Club Coaching

Crowdfund Hero Course

Ways To Work With Me

P.S. Wanna get be in the know of all things indie spunk? Sign up for our newsletter here and get your free Script-to-Screen Roadmap!

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Want more? Check out ⁠the indie spunk club⁠ for bonus content, pop-up workshops, networking, and more! And don’t miss all the content on IG (⁠@indiespunk⁠) and as always at ⁠indiespunk.com⁠

You can also hop into the full⁠ Crowdfund Hero⁠ course where you'll be guided to pitch, launch & raise funds with a magnetic campaign that builds your audience & dazzles the industry.

And if you’d like personalized 1-on-1 support from Izzy, you can apply for coaching & schedule a chat with her ⁠right here⁠.

What do festival programmers look for? How should we handle press & publicity around our films? How do we get noticed in the crowded film industry? Have you ever rolled questions like these around in ya noggin?

In this episode, Izzy chats with Theo Dumont – Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Oscar-Qualifying® HollyShorts Film Festival, Hollywood Comedy Shorts Film Festival and co-founder of the Mammoth Film Festival, and previously the director of MGM studios. As a film industry marketing strategist, Theo’s clients include Spike Lee, Netflix, Focus Features’ BlacKkKlansman, and sooo many more. 

Listen in to hear Theo’s story as well as specific tips and tricks to get your film seen by festivals, including:

— How to push forward with your goals while leaving room for more rewarding things to come

— How to build lasting relationships in the industry

— Pitching your film by connecting to your audience

— Why chipping away consistently is how people succeed

— Advice to emerging filmmakers

Theo is a marketing communications whiz and film festival savant with a ton of knowledge and experience to impart, so listen up!

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Theo’s Instagram

HollyShorts Film Festival

Hollywood Comedy Shorts Film Festival

Mammoth Film Festival

P.S. Wanna get be in the know of all things indie spunk? Sign up for our newsletter here and get your free Script-to-Screen Roadmap!

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Want more? Check out ⁠the indie spunk club⁠ for bonus content, pop-up workshops, networking, and more! And don’t miss all the content on IG (⁠@indiespunk⁠) and as always at ⁠indiespunk.com⁠

You can also hop into the full⁠ Crowdfund Hero⁠ course where you'll be guided to pitch, launch & raise funds with a magnetic campaign that builds your audience & dazzles the industry.

And if you’d like personalized 1-on-1 support from Izzy, you can apply for coaching & schedule a chat with her ⁠right here⁠⁠.

It’s official – episode 1 of the indie spunk podcast has arrived. In this inaugural two-part episode, Izzy goes deep into how she ended up here – from her BossyPants childhood, to her fluke of a series regular role, to her “first pancake” film, listen in to hear the journey of an independent filmmaker, including:

— almost getting expelled from primary school after directing her classmates in Titanic

— finding refuge in storytelling and the arts

— landing a role on a popular television show + losing self-confidence

— learning how to work + collaborate on set

— moving forward despite failures

— why she decided to make her own work

Most of all, this episode is Part 1 of the unconventional, yet relatable journey, of a filmmaker. Join Izzy on this journey of self-discovery and creating your own work as a filmmaker, or actor – or both!

Part ✌🏼 coming tomorrow!

P.S. Wanna get be in the know of all things indie spunk? Sign up for our newsletter here and get your free Script-to-Screen Roadmap!

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Want more? Check out ⁠the indie spunk club⁠ for bonus content, pop-up workshops, networking, and more! And don’t miss all the content on IG (⁠@indiespunk⁠) and as always at ⁠indiespunk.com⁠

You can also hop into the full⁠ Crowdfund Hero⁠ course where you'll be guided to pitch, launch & raise funds with a magnetic campaign that builds your audience & dazzles the industry.

And if you’d like personalized 1-on-1 support from Izzy, you can apply for coaching & schedule a chat with her ⁠right here⁠.