Send us Fan Mail

From PBS broadcasts to grassroots theatrical screenings, Mike has built a career defined by independence, impact, and a deep belief in cinema as a communal experience. He has worked across productions that have been screened at major festivals including Sundance, Tribeca, Cannes, and Toronto, and has been a driving force behind the independent film movement in upstate New York.

What makes Mike’s journey so powerful is not just what he’s created—but how he’s done it: with courage, clarity, and a commitment to bringing audiences together.

Learn More:

www.brownwhitestory.com  

www.videosforchange.com 

Join our new educational platform From the Heart THRIVE and get free classes on film funding: https://fromtheheartproductions.thrivecart.com/from-the-heart-thrive/

Send us Fan Mail

Danielle Guilbot is an Austin-based actress and film-tech entrepreneur.  She is the founder of TexasFilmScene.com: the Texas Movie Operating System. TFS is a clearinghouse connecting producers, crews, and talent with everything they need to bring productions to Texas — from firsthand producer insights and crew resources to a full breakdown of the state's film incentive programs.

Join our new educational platform From the Heart THRIVE and get free classes on film funding: https://fromtheheartproductions.thrivecart.com/from-the-heart-thrive/

Send us Fan Mail

AI is no longer something on the horizon. It’s already here, quietly reshaping how films are developed, produced, edited, and even distributed. But with that power comes critical questions—about ethics, authorship, and the future of creative work itself.  In this episode, we’re not just talking about what AI can do—we’re exploring what it should do, and how filmmakers can stay aligned with their creative voice while navigating a rapidly evolving industry.

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, we’re diving into one of the most powerful opportunities emerging right now—branded content.

What if your film could be funded not by waiting for a studio or investor… but by aligning your story with a brand that shares your message and your audience?

What if branding wasn’t a compromise—but a creative partnership?

Our guest, Johann Garcia, founder of BrandedStreams, is at the forefront of this movement. He works with filmmakers and creators to help them understand how to position their projects as valuable storytelling opportunities for brands—opening new doors for financing, marketing, and distribution.

Send us Fan Mail

Jonathon Smith is a writer, director, and producer whose work spans independent film development and forward-looking conversations about the evolving film industry.

Known for his thoughtful approach to storytelling and production, Jonathon has been actively exploring how emerging technologies, shifting studio structures, and new distribution models are reshaping opportunities for filmmakers.

As both a creative and a strategist, he brings a valuable perspective on how filmmakers can adapt to industry disruption while staying true to their artistic voice.

Jonathon is especially interested in how independent filmmakers can use new tools—including artificial intelligence and evolving digital platforms—to develop projects, reach audiences, and build sustainable careers in filmmaking.

Send us Fan Mail

Anabelle Munro is an award-winning writer, producer, director, and singer and owner of Blue Boots Productions whose creative work spans film and music with a deep commitment to socially conscious storytelling.

She is the creator and manager of the Ethos Film Festival, a festival designed to celebrate films that embody integrity, purpose, and artistic excellence. Through Ethos, Anabelle has built a space where independent filmmakers can showcase their work in an environment that values meaningful cinema, thoughtful dialogue, and creative collaboration.

Her leadership reflects both artistic passion and entrepreneurial spirit — qualities every independent filmmaker must cultivate.

Send us Fan Mail

Kinema is a technology-driven global screening and streaming platform designed to democratize film distribution and empower independent filmmakers. Before launching Kinema, Rish was a Principal at Human Ventures, where he supported and invested in early-stage startups across a range of industries. Prior to that, he worked in fintech, leading strategic projects at Transactis ahead of its 2019 acquisition by Mastercard. At Kinema, he champions community-led screenings, virtual events, direct audience relationships, and, most recently, partnered with Show&Tell Films to expand resources and education for filmmakers within the Kinema ecosystem.

Send us Fan Mail

Mark Elias is a Los Angeles-based writer, actor, and independent filmmaker focused on grounded, commercial indie films with bold concepts and strong character work. He is the producer of We Could Be Heroes, a comedy-crime heist rooted in gaming culture. Mark is currently raising the film through WeFunder, allowing the public to invest and follow the project’s real-time journey from campaign to production. His work blends entrepreneurial execution with story-driven filmmaking, with a mission to build audience-first entertainment that can break out commercially.

Send us Fan Mail

Christopher Riley is a screenwriter, director, and author with a career spanning award-winning international cinema and major studio assignments. His groundbreaking 1999 German-language courtroom thriller After the Truth earned multiple awards, and his screenwriting work includes projects for Disney’s Touchstone Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Sean Connery’s Fountainbridge Films, Mandalay Television Pictures, and the Fox television network.

Chris is also the author of The Hollywood Standard, the definitive script format manual celebrating 20 years as a best-selling reference for screenwriters worldwide, as well as The Defining Moment: How Writers and Actors Build Characters. He has taught screenwriting at the graduate and undergraduate levels for more than 20 years, shaping the next generation of storytellers.

Send us Fan Mail

THE CROWDFUNDING QUEEN™ is a fundraising expert and innovator, as well as a multi-award-winning European-American film and theater director and producer. She has garnered over 37 awards and accolades and was once an Oscar contender in the “Best Documentary” category for her acclaimed feature-length film, Torn from the Flag. She is also known for her Cannes-award-winning short Brown Paper Bag.  THE CROWDFUNDING QUEEN™ is recognized worldwide as acrowdfunding consultant. She engineered the FROM ZERO TO A MILLION IN 90 DAYS™ fundraising course and major crowdsourcing campaigns — including raising $1.7 million forTorn from the Flag — and now teaches filmmakers and entrepreneurs how to use fundraising techniques, crowdfunding, and strategic donor engagement to power their projects forward. She splits her time between Hollywood and Hungary, works internationally as a director and fundraising educator.