In today's episode, we interviewed Jacob Stebel aka Jacob Steebs.

Jacob is a teacher, writer, photographer, and producer from Long Island, NY where he spent his teenage years and early twenties working on public access shows, and managing an arthouse movie theater, while writing and acting in several short films. After co-writing and producing the no-budget feature Freaks, Nerds & Romantics, a story about the unraveling of a punk band and their local music scene, he finished his BA in English at Stony Brook University, graduating Summa Cum Laude before getting his MA in English Education at Columbia University’s Teachers College.

After graduating, Jacob brought his enthusiasm for working with young people and his love of writing to The Cinema School, the first public high school in the nation to require four years of study in narrative filmmaking. A strong partnership with Ghetto Film School developed, as Jacob contributed to four years of International Thesis Films, serving as script advisor and on-location production support to the Fellows in Stockholm, Sweden (2014) and A Coruña, Spain (2015). His work with students has been featured on ABC7, PIX11, & NY1 News, and written up in The Atlantic.

After nearly a decade of teaching in the South Bronx, Jacob is delighted to transition to developing student filmmakers at Ghetto Film School, bringing his passions for education, film, diversity, and equity of access to this inspiring organization and its deserving students.

in this short clip, Shaun shares his approach to crafting authentic characters.

In this episode we interviewed Shaun Seneviratne to discuss "BEN AND SUZANNE, A REUNION IN 4 PARTS" his first feature film shot on location in Sri Lanka.

The romantic reunion of Ben Santhanaraj and Suzanne Hopper is thwarted when Suzanne's boss asks her to work during their holiday road trip. Joined by their driver Mohammed, they embark on a chaotic, horny, and (ultimately) loving journey across Sri Lanka.

In this short clip, Shaun Seneviratne, a Sri Lankan-American filmmaker and educator discusses his experience filming his first feature, "Ben and Suzanne, A Reunion in 4 Parts," shot on location in Sri Lanka.

His shorts screened at Nantucket, Montclair, CAAMFest, San Diego Asian, and Bushwick. He teaches at the Brooklyn STEAM Center, co-hosts Rohmercast, and runs Redacted Screenings. He's based in New York City.

In this short clip, Vega dishes how he went from the music industry to the film industry.

In this short clip, Vega & Greg debate where filmmakers should focus their energies to achieve success within the industry.

In this episode, Co-Host Gregory Hernandez interviews Vega Montañez.

Hailing from the vibrant city of Providence, Rhode Island, Vega Montañez is a transformative award winning film producer, writer, and director who has become a momentous force in the film and television industry. Born in New York City and raised in Providence, Vega's impact reverberates through the creative landscape with a passion for storytelling that touches the spiritual and emotional cores of the audience.

Over the past three years, Vega has left an indelible mark on the industry, contributing to nine feature films in various capacities while prolifically writing over two dozen scripts in the past 18 months. His debut film, "The Hurt We Share," not only earned over 12 international awards but was also acquired by Dame Dash Studios in partnership with Homestead Entertainment, debuted on Fox Soul after a sold out premiere and is now streaming on Tubi. The momentum continues with four upcoming films, “Beyond Detention”, "A Quiet Road," "Nico," and the recently wrapped "The Burden of Nine Lives”, all slated for release throughout 2024.

Vega's storytelling prowess is fueled by his commitment to portraying the human experience in a way that resonates uniquely, paired with a love for delivering high-adrenaline visuals. His business revolves around creating films, television, and commercials that feel distinctive, inviting audiences to see the world through a different lens and potentially reshape interactions.

Watch this short clip to learn about Nicole's view on Queer Cinema!

Dive into Nicole's background and filmmaking journey in this short clip!

In this episode we interview, Nicole Tay, a filmmaker behind the recent works, "Sub" and "Tomato & Eggs:

Nicole's bio below:

a queer nonbinary woman and award-winning director based in NYC. I have two purposes in life: first, is to experience and create as much joy, love, and connection as possible in my blip of existence. And second, is to tell really f*cking good stories.  

These goals have led me down some interesting career paths. As a copywriter, I’m well acquainted with the Mad-Men-style advertising agencies of Madison Ave. Advertising taught me how to tell a story with as little as an image and a headline. Hundreds of creative briefs later, I can instantly identify the essential ingredients for setting teams up for success.

I also know well the spectacular hope and chaos of running a startup in the emerging tech industry of Web3/crypto. Crypto startups and indie film aren’t that different—scrappy dreamers fighting against the odds, countless fires and brushes with disaster; these are ruthless environments of extreme growth. While I proudly bear my battle scars, I no longer accept trauma-bonding, scarcity, and fear to comprise the soil from which I grow tender art.

The process matters just as the soil matters. As a director, my art goes beyond the story I tell on-screen; it is my commitment to the future of queer film by queering the process of how we make films.

If you too want to model softer, liberated, future ways of being, come play with me!