The BraveMaker Podcast

Join Tony Gapastione in conversation with 2026 Sundance selected film: TAKE ME HOME. Written/directed by Liz Sargent. https://takemehomefilm.com/Liz Sargent is a Korean-American adoptee and award-winning filmmaker whose work delves into adoption, disability, and family dynamics. With a background in choreography, she brings emotional depth to her storytelling, shaped by her experience as the middle child of eleven in an intersectionalfamily.A two-time NY EMMY winner (2020 & 2021), Sargent is also a HALF Initiative Mentee (2022 & 2023), an MSSNG PCES AICP Mentee (2023), and NBCU's Launch Director (2024-2026). Her debut narrative short,Strangers' Reunion, (2019), was a personal adoptee film produced by Ritz- Carlton and Hearst under the mentorship of Mike Figgis, released in six languages worldwide.Her proof of concept, Take Me Home, premiered at Sundance (2023), won the Grand Jury Prize at American Cinematheque's PROOF FF (2024), and was the centerpiece at the White House to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Olmstead Act, where Sargent and her sister, the film’s star, shared theirstories with key officials.The feature pitch won the largest production award in the world at AT&T Untold Stories at Tribeca FF (2025) and will world premiere at Sundance in U.S. Dramatic Competition 2026.

Go with us for the LAST TIME in Park City Utah---with filmmaker Tony Gapastione who has been attending for 14 years and Naee Anderson who volunteers at the Library theater and has been for 7 years!Tony Gapastione is a writer/director/actor and the founder of BraveMaker. With three feature films he's written and produced, 2 he's directed and many more to come, Tony is passionate about community development and elevating the arts to create change. From the SF Bay to L.A., Tony hosts monthly mixers, weekly podcasts and classes as well as the BraveMaker film festival every July. Tony recently started his feature filmmaker club---a year long coaching co-hort for filmmakers who want to take action and bring a feature film to life. Natalie “Naee” Anderson is a Richmond-born film director, producer, visual storyteller and festival programmerwith a multidisciplinary approach to filmmaking and crafts stories that explore themes of identity, transformation, and authenticity. Naee embodies a cinematic style that blends emotional depth and visual intention. Her footprint has reached to prominent festivals including Sundance, Tribeca, BraveMaker, and the Morehouse Human Rights Film Festival, reflecting her commitment to bold storytelling that resonates on and off screen. Whether behind the camera or leading a production, she brings a clear vision that centers truth and connection in every frame.

Join BraveMaker founder, Tony Gapastione--  / tonygapastione  a filmmaker who has produced three feature films and founded a film festival--in conversation with actress/Youtuber Belgica Rodriguez---an actress and Youtube content creator based in Los Angeles and San Francisco. She is known for her many commercials and short films such as Land of Opportunity which premiered at the SF Latino Film Festival and Creature Comforter that will be premiering at the 2024 BraveMaker Film Festival. On TV, she played Ted Bundy’s wife, Carole Ann Boone on Reelz in Ted Bundy: Serial Monster. To learn more about how she has broken into acting and continues to learn about the industry, you can subscribe to her youtube channel!    / belgicapaola    / belgica.rodriguez.professional  also on the podcast will be actress/comedian: Leah KnauerAn extremely gifted improviser, actress, and singer, Leah's performances are a captivating blend of sass, wit, and charm that leave audiences in stitches. Leah's impressive resumé includes collaborations with some of the biggest names in the industry, such as Wayne Brady, Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon, Mary J. Blige, Jimmy Kimmel, Meghan Trainor, and Jack Black. She has also made her mark on the big screen, appearing in films such as JAY AND SILENT BOB REBOOT, PINK SKIES AHEAD, and DOGNAPPED: HOUND FOR THE HOLIDAYS. As a co-star on Comedy Central's CORPORATE and NOT SAFE WITH NIKKI GLASER, Leah has proven herself to be a versatile performer capable of entertaining audiences on every medium and stage. Leah is the Gemini co-host of the popular spiritual-comedy "BASIC WITCHES" podcast, which was recorded in the haunted basement of The World Famous Comedy Store in Hollywood.   / leahknauer  

Start the year with filmmaker Tony Gapastione and grab some strategies for a fulfilling creative year!

Get ready for an inspiring convo with filmmaker Diane Bell — Sundance award-winning screenwriter/director and bestselling author of Shoot From the Heart.⁠  / shootfromtheheart1  ⁠Diane’s debut feature OBSELIDIA premiered at Sundance (winning two awards + two Indie Spirit noms), followed by BLEEDING HEART starring Jessica Biel & Zosia Mamet. She’s penned screenplays for legendary director John McTiernan (Die Hard, Predator) and is currently in post on her first documentary filmed in Ukraine.⁠⁠She’s on a mission to demystify filmmaking and empower new voices, and we can’t wait to dive in.⁠

BraveMaker Podcast 311 — LIVE on YouTubeFeaturing the creative team behind Two Weeks, One FoolLogline:When a man grows suspicious that the girl he’s seeing is a stripper, his investigation takes a shocking turn when he crashes one of her performances.Join us for a lively conversation with four dynamic filmmakers bringing Two Weeks, One Fool to life:• Airric Qualls – Actor, producer, screenwriter, and director from Sacramento, CA. Airric is the co-creator of AK Film Group and producing partner of 11th Hour Creatives, where he develops bold, character-driven stories across film and digital media.• Hugo F. Martínez – A Bay Area first-generation Mexican-American filmmaker whose multidisciplinary expertise spans Production Design, Art Direction, Set Design, Prop Fabrication, Carpentry, and Practical FX. His creative fingerprints can be seen in projects like the horror thriller “Blood Wine” (starring Amanda Detmer of Empire) and Hogar HGTV’s “El Sabor de Aaron,” a competition cooking show featuring celebrity chef Aaron Sánchez with guest judge Oscar De La Hoya.• Michaela P. Shelton – Bay Area filmmaker, actress, and writer best known as the creator and producer of Reckless Behavior: The Series, the hit dramedy about millennial life in the Bay Area—now streaming on Tubi and Amazon Prime. She also produces short films and centers underrepresented voices with authentic, relatable storytelling.• Derrick Hogan Jr. – Born and raised in the Bay Area, Derrick brings a rich background in sports and theatre to his work in film and television. His mission: climb as far as he can in the industry while staying grounded in the community that shaped him.

Masha Ellsworth is a Ukrainian-American storyteller, independent filmmaker, and leader in the animation industry. As a Lead Technical Director in the Characters Department at a top animation studio, she has spent over two decades bringing iconic characters to life in some of the most celebrated animated films.Beyond studio animation, she is deeply committed to independent filmmaking—using her craft to explore untold stories and cultural narratives. Born and raised in northern Ukraine, Masha brings a unique perspective to her work, blending technical expertise with a passion for art and storytelling. She holds dual degrees in Computer Science and Visual Art from Brigham Young University.

Marcos James is an actor/performer based in Los Angeles. He is mostprominently known for playing the role of White Rat in the hugely successfulHBO series, Game of Thrones. Marcos was also one of the primary stars of thetelevision movie series, Keeping up with the Joneses (LMN), in which heplayed the recurring role of William French. Other appearances include thelead role of Kody in the Amazon film, Cabin Pressure, appearances in Days ofour lives, the lead role of Arjuna in the theatre production, The Mahabharata,at the prestigious Sadler’s Wells Theatre (UK), as well as prominent roles inDisney’s, The Lion King (West End: London) and Aida.Alongside his activities in theatre, film and television, Marcos has carved outan impressive resume in the commercial sphere. He has appeared as afeatured actor, performer and commercial model in high profile campaigns forbrands such as Nokia, Heineken, Cadbury’s, Viasat (Europe) and others andhas appeared as a lead actor in videos for high profile artists such as the rockband, Shinedown.Currently, Marcos is working on a key guest star role for a television series,which will be entering its sixth season in 2026.

Meet the writer/director and producer of the new psychedelic buddy comedy   / thelemuriancandidate  

We attempted something pretty outrageous--but we accomplished it, learned and laughed really hard.