In this episode of the FILMD Podcast, Zain sits down with filmmaker Walt Perez to unpack a career built on grit, representation and relentless self-belief. From teaching himself the craft through DVD special features to launching his own banner, Verloren Productions, Walter shares how he went from early no-budget comedies to award-winning shorts on the festival circuit. He talks about adapting a Stephen King “Dollar Baby” into Into the Night, achieving Academy consideration, and using short films as both a creative laboratory and a calling card for bigger projects. The conversation dives into the realities of diversity and representation in film, why sometimes you have to “build another door” when the industry says no, and how his work in studios like Warner Bros and NBCUniversal has shaped his perspective on who really makes decisions in the room.