The BraveMaker Podcast

Some thoughts on why you might not be booking.

Tony discusses why we need to do things that scare us and plan goals that are bigger than we think we can achieve on our own--so we learn by being stretched.   / tonygapastione  

🎙️ Actress Natalia Dominguez MOST RECENTLY STARRED in @HBOMAX's #FreakyTales movie opposite Pedro Pascal. 🇸🇻 Natalia Dominguez is a proud Salvadoran-American actor dedicated to telling impactful stories that highlight human struggle, resilience, & triumph. Born & raised in East Palo Alto, California, Natalia’s journey into acting began in her church’s stage productions, where she discovered her love for storytelling and deep connection formed through art.⚡️ Raised by a single mother alongside her three older brothers, Natalia learned the power of perseverance early on. Her experiences shaped her desire to tell authentic stories that reflect the human condition. She works tirelessly to represent Latinos everywhere—especially those from El Salvador. Through her roles in projects like Freshman Year (Netflix), Gabriel, The After, The Alternate, and her most recent achievement in Freaky Tales alongside Pedro Pascal and Tom Hanks, Natalia has proven that with hard work and resilience, anything is possible.In addition to her work in film, Natalia has been featured in high-profile commercials for brands such as Lucasfilm, AT&T, Oculus, Dove, SentinelOne, eBay, Apple, Clorox, McDonald's, & Google. Each project allows her to further connect with audiences & showcase her versatility as an actor.👩🏼‍🤝‍👩🏽 As a mother of 2 girls, Natalia's passion for storytelling is matched by her commitment to raising empathetic, kind, & strong girls. Through her work & her personal journey, Natalia is determined to give her daughters the voice they need to succeed & live with purpose.🎭️ A continual learner, Natalia has honed her craft through training at Z/A Studios, Upright Citizens Brigade, and Howard Fine Studios and learning from this world. She believes in the power of storytelling as a tool for growth, connection, and understanding, and she remains dedicated to bringing authentic, relatable characters to life.💛 A proud Latina representing her roots, Natalia Dominguez is a force in the entertainment world, inspiring others to dream big, break barriers, & embrace their true selves.

Actor/Filmmaker Tony Gapastione---on not just talking about it--but DOING IT.

Jane Kaczmarek is best known for her role as ‘Lois’ on television’s award winning Malcolm in the Middle, for which she received 7 consecutive Emmy nominations, multiple Golden Globe and S.A.G. nominations, as well as the Television Critics Award two years running, the only woman to be so honored. She will next be seen among the all-star ensemble in the Duffer Bros upcoming Netflix limited series The Boroughs. She just wrapped the long-awaited reboot of Malcolm in the Middle for Disney +, reuniting with Bryan Cranston & Franke Muniz. Jane’s television career began with iconic series St Elsewhere, The Paper Chase, and Hill Street Blues after graduating from The University of Wisconsin and the Yale School of Drama. Starring in innumerable television series since, she continues in her role as ‘Judge Harm’ on The Simpsons, and more recently received raves from critics & fans for her role as ‘Cal’ opposite LaKeith Stanfield on the Apple + limited series The Changeling, adapted from the bestselling novel.Rani DeMuth is a Carpinteria-based writer/director. Her feature script END OF THE LINE was selected for Film Independent’s Screenwriting Lab, Directing Lab & Fast Track Finance Market, with Christina Sibul (Thirteen, Monica) set to produce. Her films have screened at over fifty international festivals and won awards across all categories.She received LACMA’s first Art of Film Award for her short THE DOUBLE starring Oscar-nominated actor Eric Roberts, which sold to Shorts International. Her recent short, AND NOW I LAY ME DOWN, starring Jane Kaczmarek, premiered at the 2024 Santa Barbara International Film Festival and won Best Dark Comedy at the HollyshortsComedy Film Festival and the Portland Comedy Film Festival. Rani is a Ryan Murphy HALF Initiative fellow and holds a BFA in painting & experimental film from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago & an MFA from the UCLA School of Theater, Film & TV. She's a member of the Alliance of Women Directors and a classically trained pianist.

Sasha Timan is a fearless storyteller whose work bridges documentary realism with emotional, character-driven narratives. A former TV journalist in Moscow and Washington, DC, Sasha now creates intimate films rooted in human rights, immigration, motherhood, and survival. Based in Los Angeles and holding an MFA from UCLA, her latest short Timelessness follows a Russian pianist seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border. Her award-winning film Holy Water, about an elderly woman trapped in a televangelist’s scheme, earned Best Student Film at LA Indies Film Fest.Darya Ekamasova is a Russian award-winning actress whose performances have been featured at Cannes, Venice, and Berlinale. Known for her nuanced and powerful portrayals, she starred in The Americans and most recently played a striking role as a ruthless oligarch mother in the Oscar-winning Anora.Marc Thureau-Dangin is a UCLA Film & TV alum and seasoned 1st Assistant Director. With experience across French television and international productions, he’s worked on projects filmed in prestigious locations like the Élysée Palace and continues developing his voice as a director and producer.Hosted by BraveMaker founder Tony Gapastione, this LIVE episode recaps the most powerful moments from BraveMaker Film Fest 2025, and dives into Sasha’s creative journey, process, and passion for telling stories that matter.

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300th LIVE with Tony Gapastione and Priscilla Lam AND special guests from the BraveMaker Film Fest.July 10th, 2025 at the Bravemaker HQ in Redwood City, California with: Hilliard GuessSaeed CrumplerDave ThiesShoshannah Stern Zach Gottsagen Kathryn Smith-McGlynnNiema JordanNaee AndersonLeah Knauer Ken WhittinghamPriscilla Lam
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Join hosts Tony Gapastione and Belgica Rodriguez for a special conversation with selected creators whose bold stories will be featured in our upcoming festival.🎬 Behind-the-scenes moments🎤 Filmmaking insights💥 Creative inspiration

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Nijla Mu’min is a powerful creative voice shaped by poetry, music, fiction, and dance. Born and raised in the East Bay Area, she weaves deeply personal and socially resonant narratives that spotlight the intersections of identity, justice, and belonging.Her debut feature Jinn — a coming-of-age story about faith, freedom, and first love — premiered at SXSW, where it earned her the Special Jury Award for Screenwriting, and went on to be named a New York Times Critics Pick. Since then, Nijla has made her mark directing episodes of Queen Sugar, Insecure, Swagger, Blindspotting, Wu-Tang: An American Saga, All Rise, and more.She is a Sundance Institute alum, a recipient of the MPAC Media Award for Courage and Conscience, and a ReFrame Rise fellow. She’s currently developing her second feature, Mosswood Park, which was awarded the SFFILM Rainin Grant. Her academic background includes a dual MFA in Film Directing and Creative Writing from CalArts and a BA from UC Berkeley, where she studied under the legendary poet June Jordan.Nijla’s work is bold, intimate, and evocative — and this conversation will dive into how she tells stories that stay with you long after the credits roll.Watch the weekly LIVE stream on ⁠⁠BraveMaker ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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