The Hollywood Makers

As we begin a new year at The Hollywood Makers, I wanted to open with a conversation that reflects the heart of this community: creators who think long-term, work across disciplines, and understand the responsibility that comes with storytelling.

Christine La Monte is one of those voices.

With a career that spans studio marketing at Universal, Disney, and Orion, and an expansive body of work as a producer, director, and writer, Christine embodies the rare balance between creative vision and strategic insight. Her work moves fluidly between Hollywood and international cinema, between institutional systems and independent production.

In our conversation, Christine shares how her early years in studio marketing shaped her understanding of audience, positioning, and the business of storytelling — knowledge that later became invaluable as she transitioned into independent filmmaking.

We dive deeply into her current projects, Ai Weiwei’s Turandot and Viva Verdi!, both of which sit at the intersection of art, activism, and cultural heritage. Ai Weiwei’s Turandot follows the globally renowned artist as he brings his vision of freedom of expression to Puccini’s iconic opera at the Rome Opera House. Viva Verdi! offers an intimate look at Casa Verdi in Milan, a living community founded by Giuseppe Verdi for retired opera singers and the young musicians they mentor — a place where memory, artistry, and mentorship coexist.

With Viva Verdi! recently shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Original Song, Christine reflects on what awards recognition truly means — not as a finish line, but as a moment of visibility that can amplify stories rooted in humanity and legacy.

What makes this conversation especially meaningful is Christine’s perspective on emerging creatives. She speaks candidly about patience, longevity, and the importance of building a career that evolves rather than burns out. In an industry often driven by speed and metrics, her approach is a powerful reminder that meaningful creative lives are built over time.

This episode sets the tone for what The Hollywood Makers is continuing to become: a space for thoughtful conversations, honest insights, and voices that care deeply about the future of storytelling.

If you had to sum up 2025 in the entertainment industry. It was a year that kept surprising and challenging people, both creatively and financially, but also emotionally. It was a year where it felt like just when you caught your breath, something else happened. There was another headline, another layoff, or another reminder that this industry that we love is deeply impacted by the world around it, whether we want it to be or.

But rather than thinking about the doom and the gloom, I want to focus on what we can take from the year. Because as hard as 2025 was, I genuinely believe that it gave us clarity. And clarity, even when it’s uncomfortable, is extremely valuable. So today, we’re going to talk about a few of the major moments from the year that shook the industry, but also talk about what we could learn from them and why at least I am choosing to look towards 2026 with cautious optimism.

The year started out with what, looking back now, was probably an omen for what the rest of the year would be like. In January, Southern California experienced devastating wildfires that tore through neighborhoods across LA and the surrounding counties. Thousands of structures were destroyed, entire communities were displaced, and the air quality was unsafe for days. And for many people in the entertainment industry — crew members, assistants, writers, performers — this wasn’t just a news story, it was their home. Studios shut down productions, talk shows went dark, award events were postponed.

And there was an unprecedented fear that settled over the city. And for those of us who live and work in LA, it forced a deeper fear to come to the surface. What if the city changes in a way it can never recover from? LA has always been positioned as the entertainment center. It’s where people move to chase their Hollywood dreams. It’s where careers are built. And suddenly, it was literally on fire. But production didn’t disappear. They adapted. Projects relocated, stories kept being told from other places, other countries, other communities. And in that moment, it became undeniable that the industry had already outgrown the concept of just having a single geographic center. LA is still the heart of the entertainment industry. That hasn’t changed, but it’s no longer the whole body. Global stories are increasingly what audiences want, and productions are international. Creativity is decentralized, and as scary as that realization might be to some people, it’s also freaking.

The world is bigger than just the LA bubble, or even larger, the America bubble. And that concept is not a loss, it’s an opportunity. It means there are more voices, more perspective, more ways for stories to exist beyond just one city or country’s limits. And it also means that if you’re not a huge fan of LA for whatever reason, you can still have a thriving industry career closer to wherever it is that you do love.

As the year continued, the threat from the fires died out, which only made room for the threat of unemployment. Layoffs hit again, this year most notably at Warner over the summer, but also across the entire industry almost year-round. By now, layoffs have almost become background noise in the industry, which is pretty terrifying since every headline represents real people with rent, families, health insurance, and careers they worked for years to build.

And the year made it painfully clear how unstable this industry can be even when you’re doing everything right. And yet it also highlighted something pretty essential, which is that your network could come out of so much more than your resume. The people who bounced back after layoffs and landed on their feet again had one thing in common. They had community. They had relationships. They had people who checked in, people who passed along job leads, people who reminded them that a layoff is not a reflection of their talent or their worth. And it provided them the encouragement to keep searching. Which is an important reminder to those who weren’t laid off to remember to keep in contact with their network and to foster those relationships and community because you never know when you may need it one day. And to also do the same and reach out to people who we know who have been affected so we can all do our part to help each other. Layoffs also reinforce the importance of not tying your entire identity or income to one studio or role or title. The beauty of this industry is that even in moments like this, it’s always moving.

There are new platforms, new formats, new paths that we fully haven’t imagined yet, and especially compared to other industries, the side projects we do aren’t distractions or simply for fun, they’re part of our resumes and they’re proof that you’re more than a single job description. Even if you aren’t doing anything super polished or buttoned up, it shows a love and a passion for the industry that may help you find your way to the studio role or title that will be the most fulfilling for you.

Then there was the moment that forced the entertainment and political worlds to collide in a major way. When Jimmy Kimmel Live was temporarily taken off the air and then reinstated, it wasn’t just a late night controversy. It was a reminder that we are not insulated from the political climate, no matter how much we might want to be. It can be tempting in this industry to just focus solely on the work and to believe that if we just put our heads down and create, that everything else will just be background noise. But that’s not how it works in real life.

Politics are part of everyone’s life, whether they care to know what’s going on or not. In an industry like entertainment, any threat to free speech is a threat to storytelling. The Jimmy Kimmel situation wasn’t about agreeing with a specific joke or comment. It was about recognizing how easily voices can be challenged, limited, or silenced, especially when politics and power enter the conversation. And if we don’t pay attention, decisions get made for us. And once boundaries are set, hard to undo. For an industry built on expression, imagination, and questioning the world as it is, staying alert to attacks on free speech isn’t optional. It’s part of protecting our livelihoods and the stories we believe in. Something very important to take with us into 2026 is to remain informed and educated on what’s happening in your community, in the country, and in the world. Because as exhausting as it can be to keep up with the news, it’s worse to have it blindsided.

The busy side of the industry has also continued to shift under our feet this year, with the biggest headline of all being Netflix’s move to acquire Warner. This was just another sign that nothing is really being done to slow down consolidation and streaming is absolutely the dominant force. And with that comes some ongoing anxiety about the future of movie theaters. Netflix’s leadership has made it clear that the company does not value the importance of the theatrical experience over the streaming one. And them acquiring a major studio like Warner could be enough to put already struggling theaters completely out of business.

And there’s something deeply sad about imagining a world without movie theaters. We live in a time where screens demand constant attention, our phones are always vibrating, and the algorithms compete for every spare second we have. And real life connection is increasingly rare. But movie theaters offer something almost radical now, which is shared attention. A room full of people choosing to sit and watch and feel together without scrolling, without multitasking, just story and experience. Which is why theaters matter so much, not just for the industry, but for culture. They’re one of the last places where technology and humanity can meet in a very meaningful way. The future might be uncertain, but that’s exactly why supporting matters now. Because once something like that disappears, it doesn’t come back easily. It’s …

Awards season is here, but the biggest stories go far beyond trophies. On today’s episode of The Hollywood Makers, host Claudia Cano-Asbjornsen breaks down the Golden Globe nominations, the major snubs and surprises, and what they reveal about power, taste, and visibility in today’s industry.

Claudia also dives into the Film Independent Spirit Award nominations, celebrating the filmmakers working with real constraints, real risks, and real creativity, while asking the hard question: who will buy these films in an era of consolidation?

The episode’s centerpiece is the potential sale of Warner Bros., with Netflix and Paramount-Skydance locked in a high-stakes bidding war. What does this mean for theatrical releases, streaming dominance, jobs, creative freedom, and the future of Hollywood itself?

This isn’t just industry news, it’s about livelihoods, access, and the survival of an ecosystem.Listen for context, clarity, and the human cost behind the headlines.

This is the second part of Glori’s conversation with Dr. Albert Bermonte where he continues sharing about the mental struggles that hold actors and creatives back.

In this episode, they discuss:

• How to handle negative feedback and separate personal worth from criticism

• The power of saying “no” and maintaining integrity in a competitive industry

• Building a social circle that supports your growth

• Navigating typecasting and diversity challenges as a performer

Learn how to transform rejection into redirection and stay authentic while pursuing your dreams in acting or your goals in any other area of your life.

The Hollywood Makers podcast brings you insider strategies, mindset tips, how technology is impacting production and other stories that affect your work in the media and entertainment industry. Subscribe!

In this special episode, Rossy E. Eguigure shares the main purpose behind The Hollywood Makers community and how it's growing now with "RxMedia + Culture".

After decades producing on both U.S. coasts and witnessing Hollywood’s cultural shifts from the inside, Rossy puts into writing her commitment to audience intelligence, multicultural storytelling, and the evolving relationship between media, tech, and humanity.

She shares the moment that pushed her to start writing about it formally, and ...yes, it involves the film Idiocracy, so she shares with media psychology analysis and her experience on production, what Hollywood still gets wrong about audiences, and why understanding cultural context has never been more urgent.

RxMedia and Culture is now live on Substack, offering unapologetic, insight-driven analysis on culture, tech disruption, the creator economy, and the future of media, straight from someone who has lived these shifts firsthand.

Whether you’re a creator, producer, executive, or culture-curious listener, this is your invitation to join a community that’s rethinking the industry with clarity, context, and no filter.

Subscribe to RxMedia + Culture on Substack and stay connected with The Hollywood Makers across YouTube and all podcast platforms. And join us on social.

In this new episode our host Glori Anyeneh sits down with Dr. Albert Bermonte, talent agent, psychology professor, and author of Rise Above the Script.

Together, they unpack the hidden mental hurdles actors and creatives face every day. Among other topics, he discusses about:
• self-sabotage
• fear and worst-case thinking
• imposter syndrome
• comfort vs. growth
• how your environment affects your success

Albert shares 20+ years of experience working with performers and breaks down why so many talented people unintentionally hold themselves back — and how to finally move forward with confidence.

🎧 Part One available now. Subscribe for Part Two coming soon...

In this episode, Starry sits down with Disney Senior Data Scientist Dwight Liu to explore how data has become one of the most unexpected creative tools of our time. From early days studying trust on the internet to building models that reveal emotional resonance across global audiences, Dwight shares how data and imagination can work together, not against each other. We dive into intuition, AI, hidden patterns, and why the heart of storytelling still belongs to humans.

Think going viral equals instant success? Think again.

In this eye-opening episode, Glori unpacks the truth behind the biggest marketing myths in Hollywood, and reveals what really moves audiences (and sells tickets). From the illusion of influencer power to the real reason PR and marketing can’t live without each other, this episode is your crash course in modern entertainment strategy.

Discover why:

A viral moment is just the spark, not the fire.

“More impressions” doesn’t mean more conversions.

Authentic voices beat big followings every time.

TikTok isn’t the only game in town.

Good content isn’t enough…

Whether you’re building your first indie film campaign or analyzing how studios make blockbusters trend, this conversation will change how you think about selling stories in a crowded world.

🎧 Press play, and find out which “truths” Hollywood marketers don’t want you to question.

Hollywood meets humanity in this powerful first episode of Starry Interviews at THM! Starry Ye sits down with actress-turned-documentarian Kelly Galindo, creator of 26 Seconds, for a real, honest conversation about breaking into Hollywood, staying true to yourself, and turning your art into purpose.

Kelly’s journey, from acting on hit shows to directing across nine countries, is proof that storytelling can do more than entertain; it can open hearts and change lives. As an actress, filmmaker, and film professor, she shares what it really takes to keep creating with courage and compassion in an industry that’s always shifting.

If you’re an emerging or diverse filmmaker chasing your voice, this episode is for you. Tune in for truth, craft, and the kind of Hollywood stories that actually matter. Subscribe and share this episode to inspire other Hollywood Makers. You can also watch the interview on YouTube

Amazon just laid off 30,000 people. Paramount, another thousand. Across the industry, companies are cutting teams and betting on efficiency and AI.

But what if the real solution isn’t cutting, it’s creating?

In this episode of The Hollywood Makers (THM), hosted by Claudia Cano, we look beyond the headlines to explore what comes next for creatives, brands, and investors.

Our take: The real disruption isn’t about replacing people, it’s about empowering them.

🎧 Subscribe to join our community, and be part of the solution.