In this episode of Mission Matters, ⁠Adam Torres⁠ interviews ⁠Luke Tennie⁠ and ⁠Noam Shapiro⁠, Lead Actors, Producers & Writers at Dirty Coffee Pictures, about their award-winning short film JADE and its FilmShortage streaming premiere (January 14th). They share how they collaborated from a fast-writing process to a polished short designed as a calling card—and how they’re using the release to build momentum toward a potential series.

About ⁠Luke Tennie⁠

Luke Tennie grew up in South Florida, the youngest of three. Upon graduating from The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in 2016, Luke booked his very first film audition, Shock & Awe (alongside: Tommy Lee Jones, Woody Harrelson, James Marsden) with Rob Reiner at the helm. Since then, his career has become a steady crescendo as he’s gone on to star in Deadly Class (Benedict Wong, Lana Condor), Snowfall, Safety (Disney+), CSI: Vegas, Players (Paramount+), and most recently Shrinking, written by the Emmy-award winning team of Ted Lasso, Brett Goldstein & Bill Lawrence as well as Jason Segel, starring none other than Harrison Ford in his television debut on AppleTV+.”

About ⁠Noam Shapiro⁠

Noam is a native New Yorker, currently based in the Bronx. He previously held a decade-long rap career, where he learned the basics of stage-craft, rhythm, and storytelling. Noam has worked on The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, The Kill Room (opposite Samuel L. Jackson & Uma Thurman), American Horror Story, Lady In The Lake (opposite Natalie Portman), Powerbook II: Ghost, and Let The Right One In.” Noam is an acting professor at AMDA NY.

About ⁠Dirty Coffee Pictures⁠

Dirty Coffee Pictures, founded by Luke Tennie and Noam Shapiro, is an independent film production company. The company creates stories that allow it to navigate in the gray—focusing on the nuance of people’s experiences. Its stories are character-driven, humorous, and dramatic.

Luke Tennie and Noam Shapiro deeply value collaboration. They encourage people to speak up when they have ideas and believe the best idea should always win, with the shared goal of telling the most compelling story possible.

This interview is part of our AFM 2025 Series. Big thank you to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠American Film Market⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ !

Follow Adam on Instagram at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule.

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In this episode, ⁠Adam Torres⁠ and ⁠Gautam Bhardwaj⁠, Co-founder of Universal Pensions (Singapore), from the Milken Institute Middle East & Africa Summit coverage in Abu Dhabi. Gautam explains how informal workers are excluded from traditional retirement systems and how flexible, digital micro-pension marketplaces can help prevent old-age poverty while unlocking long-term domestic savings for emerging economies.

This interview is part of our Milken Coverage Series. Big thank you to Milken Institute!

Follow Adam on Instagram at ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/⁠⁠ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule.

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In this episode of Mission Matters, Adam Torres interviews J. M. Stelly, Writer, Director & Producer at Anatomica Films, about premiering Within Madness at AFM, his rapid-fire DIY production process, and how he’s shot three feature films since September. JM shares lessons on staying authentic, building community and industry fans, and why filmmakers must stop waiting for permission and start delivering finished work.

Follow Adam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule.

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In this episode, Adam Torres and Galen Hair, Founder & Partner at Insurance Claim HQ, talk about how Hurricane Katrina sparked his path into disaster recovery, the nonprofit work that taught him the insurance system from the inside, and why his company is focused on restoring families to pre-disaster life. Galen also shares the lessons of launching a mission-driven business in 2020—only to face a Category 5 hurricane weeks later—and what true recovery looks like for the communities they serve.

Follow Adam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule.

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In this episode of Mission Matters, ⁠Adam Torres⁠ interviews ⁠Dr. Gary Mason II⁠, Author, Veteran, and Filmmaker at Media 1st Creations, about attending AFM for the first time, what he learned from industry panels and deal-making environments, and why oral history is the foundation of meaningful storytelling. Dr. Mason also discusses his book-to-screen projects, including Persecuted to Love and Unconditional Love, and his mission to create media that drives healing, truth, and connection.

About ⁠Dr. Gary Mason II⁠

Gary Mason, II, was born in Washington, DC and graduated from DeMatha Catholic High School. Before entering the US Army in 2000, he received a BA in communications from Howard University. While serving in the US Army, he earned an MA in Film Production from American University and an MA in Practical Theology from Regent University. After his forced retirement, he then earned a Doctorate in Military Ministry from Regent University. Dr. Mason is also an aspiring filmmaker who co-wrote the screenplay, PVT William Cathay - Slave to Buffalo Soldier, with his wife. He is also an expert communicator in military affairs, media planning, and military ministry.

This interview is part of our AFM 2025 Series. Big thank you to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠American Film Market⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ !

Follow Adam on Instagram at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/⁠⁠⁠⁠ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule.

Apply to be a guest on our podcast:

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://missionmatters.lpages.co/podcastguest/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Visit our website:

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In this episode of Mission Matters, Adam Torres interviews Michael Greene, Founding Partner at Armington-Greene Productions, about lessons from AFM—why preparation, targeting, and proper materials matter—and how his documentary work achieved distribution across 13 streamers. Michael also shares how he’s developing a feature screenplay and using AI as a practical tool to strengthen script cohesion.

This interview is part of our AFM 2025 Series. Big thank you to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠American Film Market⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ !

Follow Adam on Instagram at ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/⁠⁠⁠ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule.

Apply to be a guest on our podcast:

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More FREE content from Mission Matters here: ⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/missionmattersmedia⁠⁠⁠

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In this episode, Adam Torres interviews Douglas Smith, Global Head of Public Affairs & Managing Director (MENA) at The Nuclear Company, about insights from the Milken Middle East & Africa Summit and how fleet-scale nuclear projects—supported by deep construction expertise and AI—can expand reliable baseload power while strengthening long-term economic and national security.

Dynamic leader with a proven track record of building winning operations that deliver within the private and public sectors. Brings more than 25 years of experience managing government and private sector organizations that have excelled in advocacy, coalition building, new business development, communications, public policy and corporate social responsibility efforts in the U.S. and around the world. A frequent public speaker as well as on air expert on numerous networks including CNN, Fox News and MSNBC

The Nuclear Company, which is leading fleet-scale deployment of nuclear power across America and pioneering the modernization of nuclear construction, today announced the hiring of The Honorable Douglas A. Smith, former Assistant Secretary for the Private Sector at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. As Global Head of Public Affairs and Managing Director for the Middle East, he will oversee The Nuclear Company’s international public affairs and business engagements with a particular focus on the Middle East and Southeast Asia. In this role, he will lead The Nuclear Company’s growing presence in those regions, which are rapidly investing in nuclear power as a cornerstone of long-term energy security and decarbonization.

About The Nuclear Company

The Nuclear Company, which is leading fleet-scale deployment of nuclear power across America and pioneering the modernization of nuclear construction, today announced the hiring of The Honorable Douglas A. Smith, former Assistant Secretary for the Private Sector at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. As Global Head of Public Affairs and Managing Director for the Middle East, he will oversee The Nuclear Company’s international public affairs and business engagements with a particular focus on the Middle East and Southeast Asia. In this role, he will lead The Nuclear Company’s growing presence in those regions, which are rapidly investing in nuclear power as a cornerstone of long-term energy security and decarbonization.

This interview is part of our AFM 2025 Series. Big thank you to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠American Film Market⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ !

Follow Adam on Instagram at ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/⁠⁠⁠ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule.

Apply to be a guest on our podcast:

⁠⁠⁠https://missionmatters.lpages.co/podcastguest/⁠⁠⁠

Visit our website:

⁠⁠⁠https://missionmatters.com/⁠⁠⁠

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In this episode of Mission Matters, ⁠Adam Torres⁠ interviews ⁠DeAnna Charett⁠, Founder & Producer at Bad Habitz Productions, LLC, about her first AFM experience, live pitching, and her veteran-first production model—staffing at least 60% of cast and crew with military veterans while developing projects including Dealer’s Choice, The Cairo, and DEFCON 4: Land of the Morning Calm.

This interview is part of our AFM 2025 Series. Big thank you to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠American Film Market⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ !

Follow Adam on Instagram at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/⁠⁠⁠⁠ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule.

Apply to be a guest on our podcast:

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Visit our website:

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More FREE content from Mission Matters here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/missionmattersmedia⁠⁠⁠⁠

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In this episode of Mission Matters, Adam Torres interviews Nicholas deKay, Director at Athlaoch Pictures, about attending AFM for the first time, transitioning from stunt work into directing, and pitching new projects including Eat the Rich Day and a Muay Thai documentary—plus insights from his distributed film The Arc of Lilburn.

This interview is part of our AFM 2025 Series. Big thank you to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠American Film Market⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ !

Follow Adam on Instagram at ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/⁠⁠⁠ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule.

Apply to be a guest on our podcast:

⁠⁠⁠https://missionmatters.lpages.co/podcastguest/⁠⁠⁠

Visit our website:

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More FREE content from Mission Matters here: ⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/missionmattersmedia⁠⁠⁠

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In this episode of Mission Matters, ⁠Adam Torres⁠ interviews ⁠Erik Felsted⁠, CEO & Executive Director of Known By Name Foundation, about attending AFM for the first time, launching a mission-driven foundation, and developing a feature film inspired by a true story of escape from North Korea to elevate awareness and human dignity.

About ⁠Erik Felsted⁠

Erik Felsted is a serial entrepreneur, finance executive, and private equity fund manager with a track record of founding and advising hundreds of start-ups.As a Senior Manager at EY, he left the CPA firm to create the following ventures: S2.com, Entirenet, Agemni, Arch Dental, Freedom Consulting Group, Residual Ventures, and RV Park Capital Partners. With expertise spanning private equity transactions, investment management, commercial real estate, corporate finance, technology, mergers & acquisitions, and tax and legal structuring, Erik has guided companies through every stage of growth through exit. He has successfully raised and managed over $30m of private investment funds, while leading investors, partners, vendors, and consultants across diverse industries.Recognized for his integrity, creativity, self-motivation, and leadership, Erik thrives at the intersection of strategy and execution. Today, Erik is channeling his talents and experience into a new passion: building a movement through film. The Known By Name Foundation will be producing stories that matter, committing to bringing more goodness and light into the world—one powerful story at a time.

This interview is part of our AFM 2025 Series. Big thank you to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠American Film Market⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ !

Follow Adam on Instagram at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/⁠⁠⁠⁠ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule.

Apply to be a guest on our podcast:

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://missionmatters.lpages.co/podcastguest/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Visit our website:

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More FREE content from Mission Matters here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/missionmattersmedia⁠⁠⁠⁠

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