Film Florida

Terry Olson is the Co-Founder, Creative Director and Chief Instigator of FusionFest in Central Florida. Previously, Terry was the Director of Arts & Cultural Affairs for the Orange County Government. His purpose is to help create dynamic events which celebrate, unite, enliven and empower people, with the primary conduit being the arts. We talk to Terry about his background, his time with the County, FusionFest, his passion for the arts, the evolution of the arts & culture scene in Central Florida and more on this episode of the Film Florida Podcast. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Susan Fox is the Founder & CEO of Casting Workbook. For over two decades, Casting Workbook has been driving the industry forward with leading-edge enterprise casting software by bridging essential communications between production, casting, agents, and their talent. Casting Workbook’s global network consists of offices all over the world with production, casting, agents, managers, and talent in 62 countries with services are offered in English, French, and Spanish. We talk to Susan about her background, all things Casting Workbook and more on this episode of the Film Florida Podcast. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Aaron Gilman is the CEO of Steamroller Studios in Central Florida. Prior to his current role, Aaron worked in the animation and visual effects departments on such films as “The Matrix Revolutions,” “The Avengers,” “Iron Man 3,” “The Hobbit” franchise, and “Avatar” among others. But arguably Aaron’s biggest passion is in providing leadership and creating the culture at Steamroller Studios that has allowed the independent animation studio to grow and flourish while providing exceptional service to clients and creating their own intellectual property in an area of the industry in constant flux and transition. We talk about all of this and more on this episode of the Film Florida Podcast. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Born in Detroit but raised in Florida, actor Tom Nowicki has more than 160 film and television credits, including a major role in the new series “Bad Monkey” on Apple TV+. We talk to Tom about his numerous roles in Florida-based projects, stories from his most well-known projects, how he got his start in the industry and advice for young actors. Tom also runs Hip Dog Canine Hydrotherapy, a small organization that does swim-therapy for injured and disabled dogs. We talk about all of this and more on this episode of the Film Florida Podcast. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 127- Based in Miami, Marco Mall is the Executive Producer of the Florida Film House, the Founder of World Wide Urban Distribution, 1st Take Youth Film Program and Urban Film Festival and an Executive with the Urban Streaming Network. Marco has spent more than a decade mentoring young talent, developing an in-house team of filmmakers, and vertically integrating their business from service productions to their own six feature films. We talk to Marco about all of these endeavors and more on this episode of the Film Florida Podcast. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 126- Traci Deen is the President and CEO of Conservation Florida. Conservation Florida is an organization working on your behalf to protect Florida’s land, water, wildlife, and way of life. Chad Crawford is the Creative Director of Crawford Entertainment. Established in 2010, Crawford Entertainment specializes in producing award-winning branded entertainment programs, and they also distribute that content for millions to see. Together, Crawford Entertainment and Conservation Florida produced “Protect Our Paradise,” a six-episode docuseries that explores Florida’s wild, wonderful places and exposes environmental issues that threaten their existence. Chad and Traci talk about Florida, the environment, the docuseries and more on this episode of the Film Florida Podcast. Audio editing by Rob Hill. For more about Conservation Florida visit https://conservationfla.org/ For more about "Protect Our Paradise" visit https://conservationfla.org/cflnews/2023/6/26/protect-our-paradise-streaming-now Clip from "Protect Our Paradise" https://youtu.be/Wh2dSkUqvjo  Traci Deen explains the Florida Wildlife Corridor https://youtu.be/Hcuna5GNDi8

Film Florida Podcast Episode 125- Established in 2013, White Elephant Group is a Miami-based film and media-tech collective of award-winning film and digital media artists innovating and challenging audiences with new film and VR stories to artistically address and elaborate upon the voices and experiences coming from minority and underserved communities in South Florida. We talk to Ronald Baez and Ashley Rose from WEG about storytelling, their collaborations, the WEG Short Film Lab and more on this episode of the Film Florida Podcast. Audio editing by Rob Hill. For more about WEG visit https://www.wegfilms.com/

Film Florida Podcast Episode 124- Melora Hardin is an Actress, Producer and Director best known for playing Jan Levinson on "The Office" and Trudy Monk on "Monk" in addition to her roles in "The Bold Type," "Transparent," "The Blacklist," "The Rocketeer," "17 Again," "Hannah Montana: The Movie," "Transparent" and "The Hot Chick" among many others. We talk about her recent film “Golden Vanity,” her time at two film festivals in Florida, her advice for actors, her collage art, her home décor line “Storyboards by Melora Hardin,” on-set stories about Gene Hackman and Clint Eastwood, and more on this episode of the Film Florida Podcast. Audio editing by Rob Hill. For more about Melora Hardin visit https://melora.com/

Film Florida Podcast Episode 123- Mario Garcia & Michael Alfieri are filmmakers, and graduates of the University of South Florida, together they made “The Throwback,” a comedy about an underappreciated and stressed supermom whose holiday-season mental breakdown causes her to believe that she is a college-age party girl. Michael produced and Mario wrote and directed the movie, filmed throughout the Bay area. They talk about their time at USF, their careers, being able to come back to Tampa and work together, and more on this episode of the Film Florida Podcast. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 122- Jennie Jarvis is an award-winning Director, Writer, and Actress as well as the writer of the award-winning textbook "Crafting the Character Arc: A Practical Guide to Character Creation and Development." Jennie is also a judge for multiple major screenwriting and film competitions each year and served as the Artistic Director for the Orpheus Theater Group from 2006-2008. As an educator, Jennie has mentored over 400 student film projects, including several that went on to win or be nominated for major awards including Telly Awards, Suncoast Region Student Production Awards, Student Emmy Awards, and ASC Awards. We talk all of these topics and more on this episode of the Film Florida Podcast. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 121- Kent Matsuoka is an award-winning creative line producer and location manager with over 25 years experience in the industry and more than 50 major credits to his name including "Hawaii 5-0," "Magnum P.I.," "Castle," "Dirty Sexy Money," "Medium," "Criminal Minds," "House" and more. Kent is a member of the Producers Guild of America and the Television Academy, he serves on the Teamster 399 Location Manager Steering Committee, and he formerly served as a Board member of the Location Managers Guild. He also works closely with the Association of Film Commissioners International and many of their affiliated film commissions around the world. Kent talks about his career, working all over the world, his advice for up and comers and more on this episode of the Film Florida Podcast. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Hilary Momberger-Powers started in front of the camera at five years old, landing her first audition as Sally Brown in the Peanuts "Charlie Brown" cartoons. After taking a break in her teenage years to focus on her education, she decided that the film and television industry was in her blood. For the last 30 years+ Hilary has had a very successful career as a Script Supervisor, enabling her to learn from some of the greatest Directors and Actors. She is also a successful commercial actress, a print model, she guest stars on television and is a feature film actor. Hilary talks about all of this and more on this episode of the Film Florida Podcast. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Susan Gallagher is an award-winning actress, producer and writer. She has appeared in numerous films and television series, even if you might not recognize her in one of her more popular roles. In 2014 she formed Her Little Red Productions and has written and/or produced several award-winning short films. Susan talks about the evolution of her career, her memorable roles and stories, advice for actors and more on this episode of the Film Florida Podcast. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Jackson George is a Senior Vice President in Creative Advertising for Disney. He has worked in entertainment advertising for more than 20 years and has managed the creative campaigns for some of the most iconic entertainment properties of the past two decades, including “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” “The Last Jedi,” and “The Rise of Skywalker,” “Avatar: The Way of Water,” “Encanto,” “Frozen 2,” “Incredibles 2,” “Toy Story 4” and “The Mandalorian,” Seasons 1 and 2. Currently, he is responsible for creative advertising strategy and execution for all Pixar, Lucasfilm, and Walt Disney Animation Studios projects across theatrical and streaming, as well as creative strategy and management of the Avatar franchise. Previously, Jackson held positions at Universal Pictures, Overture Films & InSync Advertising, where he led the theatrical creative campaigns for “Despicable Me,” “Bridesmaids,” “Ted,” “The Lorax,” “Walk The Line,” “Cast Away,” and “Rocky Balboa,” among many others. Jackson talks about his career, some of his most memorable projects, his philanthropic efforts, and more on this episode of the Film Florida Podcast. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Franklin Ritch is a Jacksonville resident and independent filmmaker focusing on writing, directing and editing. Collaborating with Emmy Award-winning cinematographer, Britt McTammany, Franklin's early short, "Bedridden," kicked off a number of short film productions. In 2018, Franklin was presented the Rising Star Award by the mayor of Jacksonville. In 2022, he released his debut feature film, "The Artifice Girl," starring sci-fi legend Lance Henriksen, which was screened at the Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal, where the film won the Golden Audience Award and later took top prize at its European premiere in Italy. The film was also screened at SXSW and The Florida Film Festival. Franklin has also been named one of the "25 New Faces of Independent Film" by Filmmaker Magazine. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Pete Zuccarini is a Cinematographer and Second Unit Director or Assistant Director. He’s most known for his underwater cinematography work on films like “Life of Pi” “Avatar: The Way of Water,” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” multiple “Pirates of the Caribbean” films, “Dolphin Tale” and “Dolphin Tale 2” to name just a few. Pete talks about his career, the extensive training, safety concerns and challenges involved in being an underwater cinematographer, favorite projects and experiences and more on this episode of the Film Florida Podcast. Audio editing by Rob Hill

Katja Esson is an Academy Award-nominated filmmaker based in Miami. She is known for her character-driven documentaries tackling race, class, and gender. She was awarded the Simons Public Humanities Fellowship at Kansas University and her films have screened at the Museum of Modern Art, American Museum of Natural History, and the Smithsonian. Her work has been supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Knight Foundation, and the Ford Foundation. And some of her most meaningful work has been done in and about Florida. She talks all of this and much more on this episode of the Film Florida Podcast. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 114- Jaimie Engle is a Florida-based novelist and screenwriter. After a decade as a critically acclaimed indie novelist, with 15 published books, she made the transition to screenwriting in 2021. And in a very short period of time, she sold her first feature length screenplay. Jaimie writes stories with a magic touch in books, streaming, film, and comics across multiple genres. She talks about her inspiration for writing, her career as a novelist, the transition to film and television, and more on this episode of the Film Florida Podcast. Audio editing by Rob Hill. Jaimie's website: https://jaimieengle.com/ Jaimie's YouTube Page: https://www.youtube.com/@jaimieenglewrites "Just Jake" Trailer: https://youtu.be/-uQMfHCamjM?si=ejyOdC9KtGjM8w47

Film Florida Podcast Episode 113- Elsten Torres is a Cuban born, New York City raised singer-songwriter, having been credited as one of the prominent creators of the Latin Alternative Rock sound of the late 1990’s. His eclectic and unconventional sound has been heard for more than 3 decades now. Elsten is a multicultural bilingual artist who has performed on stages all over the world as well as being an award-winning songwriter with major international hits, earning two GRAMMY nominations, two BMI songwriting awards, and six Billboard top ten hits throughout his career. He talks about all of this, plus his strong ties to Florida, and more on this episode of the Film Florida Podcast. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 112- David Tochterman is an Emmy-nominated executive and producer with a record of launching award-winning television and digital properties. His first job in Hollywood was the director's assistant on the pilot of "Seinfeld." He was the Executive VP of Will Smith's Overbrook Entertainment and Senior VP of the Carsey Werner Company, where he developed hit shows including "That 70's Show," "3rd Rock From the Sun," and was an Executive Producer of "Grace Under Fire." David has also been a digital strategy consultant for ABC, PBS and Starz, and a partner in the production company Pemberley Digital, winners of two Interactive Emmy Awards for video adaptations of literary classics on YouTube. He is the founder and CEO of Canvas Media Studios, providing storytelling expertise, video strategy and content production for any business looking to reach and influence audiences on digital platforms. And like most guests, David has strong ties to Florida. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Frank Patterson is the President & CEO of Trilith Studios in Atlanta, the largest purpose-built film studio in North America. Prior to Trilith Studios, Frank co-founded and served as the CEO of Pulse Evolution Corporation, a technology company that produces hyper-realistic digital humans for live and virtual reality applications. As an educator, Frank is still a faculty member of Florida State University’s College of Motion Picture Arts, where he served as dean from 2003 to 2016. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 110- Reed Martin is the author of the book "The Reel Truth: Everything You Didn’t Know You Need to Know About Making an Independent Film." The Reel Truth details the challenges that aspiring filmmakers encounter while candidly describing how to spot and avoid issues and obstacles. We talk about Reed’s background, his time in Florida, why he decided to write the book and the follow up on this episode of the Film Florida Podcast. Audio editing by Rob Hill. Available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/7X6A2oI and download Chapter 1 of the book at https://filmflorida.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/The-Reel-Truth-Chapter-1.pdf

Film Florida Podcast Episode 109- Florida resident Nathan Frankowski is an award-winning director who got his start in documentaries and has traveled to more than 30 countries for his work, including filming multiple projects in Florida ("To Write Love on Her Arms" and "Montford: The Chickasaw Rancher"). He talks about his career, his travels, filming in Florida, what caused him to move here and his most recent project, "The Devil Conspiracy," and more on this episode of the Film Florida Podcast. Audio editing by Rob Hill. Note, this episode includes a discussion about self-harm, addiction, or depression.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 108- Antonio Saillant is a leader in the field of sustainable performance, with a diverse set of skills and expertise spanning from aerospace and environmental engineering to filmmaking, writing, acting and coaching. As a filmmaker, he recognizes the importance of reducing the impact of the entertainment industry on the environment and is dedicated to promoting sustainable business practices. He assists individuals and organizations in achieving a sustainable edge by enhancing personal and business performance and raising awareness about environmental issues. His experience in the film and television industry as an actor and producer has given him a unique perspective and purpose in the entertainment and business worlds. We talk about all of this and more on this episode of the Film Florida Podcast. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 107- Chuck Malkus is a multi-platform storyteller specializing in media, production and TV and film projects. His work as an executive producer includes Heist on Netflix and Chuck’s book, FULL CIRCLE: The Remarkable True Story, is the basis for an Emmy-nominated ESPN documentary. He’s the Co-Founder of Neighbors 4 Neighbors, an international disaster relief organization. He has also served as a board member for the American Red Cross, Junior Achievement and Nova Southeastern University. Chuck talks about all of those things and more on this episode of the Film Florida Podcast. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 106- Actress, Writer and Producer Kelsey Scott is a graduate of Florida A&M University and Florida State University best known for her roles on "How to Get Away with Murder," "12 Years a Slave" and "Fear the Walking Dead: Passage." Kelsey talks about how she got into the entertainment industry, her various roles, her professional growth, a special performance she has coming up in Florida, her philanthropic efforts and more on this episode of the Film Florida Podcast. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 105- Frank Conway s a Unit Production Manager, Assistant Director and Producer with more than 35 years on industry experience. His credits include Florida-based "Edward Scissorhands," many Baywatch titles, television series "Las Vegas," "Prison Break," "Criminal Minds," "SEAL Team" and most recently "Disney’s Big Shot." Frank talks about how he got to this point in his career, the evolution of the industry, his advice for up and coming industry professionals and more. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 104- Grammy Award Nominated writer, producer and director Mo Fitzgibbon talks about her career in broadcast television, biographies, documentaries, varieties, national commercials, and music specials both in English and Spanish with the likes of Gloria Estefan, Shakira, Andy Garcia, Jon Secada and many others for outlets including NBC Universal, FOX, HBO, Investigation Discovery Channel, Destination America, Military Channel, FYI, MTV/VH1, CMT, Direct TV, Universal Kids TV, Sony Music, Epic Records, and EMI Records, among many others on this episode of the Film Florida Podcast. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 103- Charles Martin Smith is an actor, writer, and director, perhaps best known in Florida as the director of "Dolphin Tale" and "Dolphin Tale 2." Charles talks about getting is start in the industry, how his career has evolved, his favorite roles and projects including "American Graffiti," "Starman," "The Untouchables," and of course a lot of "Dolphin Tale" and "Dolphin Tale 2" stories and more on this episode of the Film Florida Podcast. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 102- John Pruitt is a producer, writer, entertainment consultant, TV personality and the former Director of the U. S. Coast Guard's Motion Picture and Television Office where he worked to tell the story of the U. S. Coast Guard by partnering with productions around the world in various projects from reality, documentary, and scripted TV to cinema. John continues to work in various roles on a variety of entertainment projects including scripted and reality TV, documentaries, cinema, and video games. He talks about all of that as well as his time in the Coast Guard on this episode of the Film Florida Podcast. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 101- Actress, Producer and Florida resident Catherine Bell is best known for her long running roles as Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie in "JAG," Denise Sherwood in "Army Wives" and Cassie Nightingale in "The Good Witch." She talks about those roles, going to college for biology and pre-med, transitioning to acting, becoming a producer, her passion for adventure and thrills and more on this episode of the Film Florida Podcast. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 100- Rob Hill is a post production audio mixer with decades of film and television experience and he’s the audio editor for the Film Florida Podcast. Rob talks about his start in the industry, how post audio has evolved over the last 40 years, finding his way to Central Florida, working on projects with The Muppets, Walt Disney Feature Animation, working at the Disney-MGM Studios, Skywalker Ranch, his thoughts on a few of the 100 episodes of the Film Florida Podcast and more. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 99- Storyboard artist, producer and director Mark Simon has amassing over 5,000 production credits in his 30+ years of experience working in the entertainment industry. Mark has pitched and sold more than 35 production and distribution deals for his original concepts, and worked with Disney, Nickelodeon, The Golf Channel, HSN and other networks pitching in-house productions. Mark was part of the Toon Boom animation team which won the 2012 Prime Time Engineering Emmy for the Storyboard Pro software. He was also inducted into the DAVE SCHOOL (Digital Animation & Visual Effects School) Hall of Fame in 2012. Sell Your TV Concept Now, Inc. is one of three companies he owns. It was inspired by countless requests over the years from both industry insiders and interested outsiders wanting to tap into Mark’s pitching techniques and success record. His & Storyboard, Inc. company, the largest supplier in the Southern U.S., provides storyboards, illustrations, cartoons and storyboard comic book illustration to the entertainment and publishing industries, including clients such as Disney, Universal, Viacom, Sony, HBO, Nickelodeon, FOX, Steven Spielberg, USA Networks, ABC Television and many others. A&S Animation, Inc., Mark’s animation consultation, development and production house, has produced animated shorts for iconic Disney characters and won more than 100 international awards. Mark is also the author of thirteen popular entertainment industry texts such as Producing Independent 2D Character Animation and Storyboards: Motion In Art, and has written articles for AWN.com (Animation World Network), Animation Magazine and others. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 98- Matt Nix is best known as the creator, writer, and executive producer of the Florida-based hit series "Burn Notice," 111 episodes over 7 seasons and at one point was the #1 rated series on cable television. In addition to "Burn Notice," Matt has created and executive produced series for numerous broadcast and cable networks as well as streaming outlets. He talks about the start of his career, the variety of television series he’s created, a whole lot of "Burn Notice" and more on this episode of the Film Florida Podcast. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 97- Nick Pavonetti is an Emmy nominated producer, having worked on many television series including "This is Us," "Only Murders in the Building," "Grandfathered," "The Neighbors," "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior," "10 Things I Hate About You" and "Titus" to name a few. Nick talks about getting his start in the industry, his evolution as a producer, his advice for others, his love of filming in Miami and more on this episode of the Film Florida Podcast. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 96- Vincent Martella is an actor best known as the voice of Phineas Flynn in the Disney Channel Animated Series "Phineas & Ferb." In addition to the 130 episodes of "Phineas & Ferb" and the dozens of spin-offs, movies and games, Vincent has worked with the likes of Pamela Anderson, Rob Schneider, Bill Engvall, Billy Ray Cyrus and Kevin Costner to name a few. He was also in all 88 episodes over 4 seasons of the series "Everybody Hates Chris" and has been in multiple episodes of "The Walking Dead." We talk to Vincent about those projects, getting involved in acting at an early age and our paths crossing back in the mid-2000’s when he was a resident of Central Florida, on this episode of the Film Florida Podcast. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 95- Actor Bill Kelly is originally from Richmond, Kentucky but he’s lived in Florida since 1984 and began acting professionally in 2011. He has appeared in over 50 television and film projects including “Burn Notice,” “Ballers,” “Bloodline,” “True Detective” and More. Most recently he was in multiple episodes of “The Wonder Years,” and the feature film “Where the Crawdads Sing.” We talk to Bill about getting into acting, his advice for new actors, the grind that is acting, and more, on this episode of the Film Florida Podcast. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 94- Frank Pace is a 4-time Emmy Nominated Producer and Executive Producer with more than 700 episodes of network television to his credit. He’s produced 16 pilots, 12 of which went to series. His credits include "Head of the Class," "Suddenly Susan," "George Lopez," "For Your Love," "Shake it Up," "Girl Meets World" and "Murphy Brown," just to name a few. Frank currently hosts his own podcast and he’s a proud graduate of Jacksonville University. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 93- Glen Roberts is the Chief of Entertainment Media for the United States Department of Defense. Glen works out of the Pentagon and his team is responsible for projecting and protecting the Department's image in the entertainment space, including films, TV shows, video games and events. He serves as the primary point of contact between the DoD and entertainment studios, production companies, guilds, industry associations, and more. Glen works with both domestic and international film commissions to facilitate all types of projects. And he’s also a graduate of the University of South Florida. We talk about a typical request of his office, the challenges of incorporating real DoD elements into fictional stories, the political side of his job and more on the final episode of Season 4 of the podcast. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 92- Adam Vernier is an actor, a long-term Board Member for SAG-AFTRA, and a Florida resident. He’s had a very successful career appearing on stage, in television shows, feature films, made-for-TV movies, commercials, and more. Adam’s appeared in some of the biggest television series filmed in Florida including “Charlie’s Angels,” "The Glades," “Ballers,” “Bloodline” and “The Right Stuff.” His recent credits include “Queen Sugar,” “Outerbanks” and “Outcast.” Adam talks about getting into acting, his advice for new actors, the grind that is acting, and more, on this episode of the Film Florida Podcast. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 91- Larry Goebel is an industry veteran with more than 40 years of experience. His roles in the industry have included distribution, sales, business and legal affairs, acquisitions and development, marketing and more. Larry talks about his career, the evolution of distribution of film and television products, his advice for up and coming industry professionals and more. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 90- Jennifer Aspen is an actress, writer and producer. As an actor, she has close to 100 credits to her name. She was a series regular on Party of Five, had a recurring role on Glee and was a lead in the ABC series GCB. Additionally, she had guest roles on Beverly Hills, 90210, Married with Children, Will & Grace, Friends, Grey’s Anatomy, CSI and Criminal Minds to name just a few. More recently she’s turned her attention to writing and producing, including being the Executive Producer of 5 movies for The Hallmark Channel. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 89- Frank Licari is an Emmy Nominated Actor, TV Host, Comedian, Writer, Producer and Director. His credits span 30 years of work in Theater, Film, and TV including recurring and guest starring roles on network and cable television, feature films and off-Broadway theater. He’s the owner of Quite Frankly Entertainment, an independent production company and he’s the host of On The Town in the Palm Beaches as well as The Palm Beaches Student Showcase of Films. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 88- Chris Dudley is a composer and multi-instrumentalist most known as the keyboardist in the multi-Grammy award nominated band Under Oath. After almost two decades and over one million albums sold, Chris is bringing his unique ear and style to the film scoring world in a way that's already leaving a prominent mark. Chris talks about how he got into music, his evolution as a musician, and scoring for films and video games. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 87- Breion Moses, founder of 7 Hillz Productions, the visionary behind the ReelBack Film Summit, the CEO of Seven Hillz Productions Foundation and a Film Florida member, talks about her mission to employ quality people and produce quality projects. The ReelBack Film Summit is the first film summit that focuses specifically on HBCU graduates and students. Breion holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Nova Southeastern University and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Florida A&M University. She is also certified to help veterans to civilian society. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 86- Jay Roewe is the Senior Vice President of Production Planning and Incentives for HBO, HBO MAX, Warner Media. A 30+ year veteran of film and television production, he joined HBO in 1994, originally serving as Vice President of Production. In 2000, he began overseeing the miniseries division as well, until 2010 when he was promoted to Head of Physical Production for all series in the company. Jay talks about his career, the evolution of HBO and Warner Media, his connection to Florida and more. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 85- Scott Edwards, Executive VP, Head Of Creative Advertising FOX Entertainment, talks about his job producing trailers, launch promos, one sheets, billboards, custom digital and social content for some of the most recognizable titles on television. Scott also talks about a typical day in his role, how he got to this point in his career, his days at Indiana University, learning how to be a good leader, and much more. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 84- Susanne Robinson and Vanessa Alava are the co-founders of Mic Drop Creative in Raleigh North Carolina. Their team creates educational and inspiring original Podcasts, Film and TV, Web & Digital Content, Books, and Apps. Wherever possible, they amplify and dignify the voices of under-represented people – with a special focus on women and girls in STEM and STEAM fields. Susanne and Vanessa talk about their passion for telling inspiring stories, their desire to educate audiences about emerging technologies, and their commitment to equipping women and girls with practical professional skills. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 83- Meredith Shea from ARRAY, the Peabody Award-winning multi-platform arts and social impact collective dedicated to narrative change, founded by filmmaker Ava DuVernay, talks about all things ARRAY, including ARRAY Crew, the below-the-line hiring database for film and television professionals. Meredith is responsible for managing and fostering relations with crew members, studio partners and industry organizations for ARRAY Crew. She also talks about her time with The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and more. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 82- Representative Linda Chaney is a Republican member of the Florida House of Representatives from Pinellas County. She talks about her support of Florida’s film, television and digital media industry, her career as a marketing professional, her passion for dog and cat rescue, her legislative initiatives, hobbies outside the legislature, advice for our industry to keep fighting in Tallahassee, and more. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 81- Representative Dana Trabulsy is a Republican member of the Florida House of Representatives from Fort Pierce. She talks about her passion Florida’s film, television and digital media industry, her career as a marketing and public relations professional, her legislative initiatives, what she learned during her first legislative session, her advice for our industry to keep fighting in Tallahassee, and more. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 80- Actress, writer and producer Austin Highsmith Garces is a self-proclaimed multi-hyphenate artist and activist with a passion for helping others. An actress by trade, she’s most known for her role as “Phoebe” in “Dolphin Tale” and “Dolphin Tale 2” but she’s also a writer and producer. Her acting credits include “Seal Team,” “Criminal Minds,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Big Love,” “NCIS,” “Hawaii 5-0,” and “Scream: the TV series” just to name a few but her current project brings her back to the St. Pete/Clearwater area as the co-writer of a film. She talks about those things along with how adversity in her life has led to opportunities. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 79- Former Florida State Film Commissioner, and longtime DGA member, Paul Sirmons talks about his 40+ year career including his work on iconic television series in the 1980’s and 90’s before turning his attention to independent feature films with a focus on family and faith-based projects. Now, he’s now the Co-Chair of Film Florida’s Legislative Committee and the President of the International Christian Visual Media Association (ICVM). Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 78- The Slamdance Film Festival is a showcase for raw and innovative filmmaking that lives and bleeds by its mantra: By Filmmakers, For Filmmakers. Taylor Miller and Ronald Baez from Slamdance Miami talk about the festival, which will celebrate emerging filmmakers from Central and South America, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Florida in an open-air festival experience at the North Beach Band Shell in Miami, October 28-30, 2021. The festival will then continue with a virtual component from October 31-November 7. Taylor O. Miller is an award winning documentary photographer and filmmaker. She studied for her PhD in Communications at the European Graduate School in Sadas Fee Switzerland and is a co-founder and manager of Slamdance Unstoppable and Slamdance Miami. Miller spent 2.5 years as the Director of Photography with Harbor Heights Entertainment filming a docu-series on the city of Detroit. Her work on the series led to an invitation to speak at Google about THIS IS DETROIT which will be released in 2022. Her recent appearances include a panel on Authenticity and Accessibility in Film and Entertainment for NBC Universal as well as being a panelist alongside New York Times Bestseller Francesca Cavallo and Vanity Fair journalist and advocate Marina Coehllo for the Inclusivity in Film Panel at the Not Film Festival in Italy.  Ronald Baez is an Afro-Latinx filmmaker and immersive media artist from Miami, FL. His short films have screened at film festivals and art museums worldwide including HBO’s New York Latino Film Festival, the Florida Film Festival, Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival, and the Norton Museum of Art. Several of Baez’s projects would go on to be broadcast for television by PBS Stations and distributed online by PBS VOD and Seed & Spark SVOD. Baez's award-winning immersive media projects have opened in exhibition at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), the Florida Museum of Natural History, and the National Association of Broadcasters Conference in Las Vegas (NAB Show). Baez was awarded the NAB Futures Innovator's Award in 2019 for his innovative XR work with South Florida immersive media collective Yellow Wood Immersive. Baez and his partners continue to work with local and national organizations and institutions like National Geographic, the New World Symphony, the University of Oregon, the Ford Foundation, and the Knight Foundation on a variety of ongoing immersive media and film projects. In addition to his work as a filmmaker and immersive media artist, Baez is a founding member of the White Elephant Group, a Miami-based filmmaking collective, and also serves as the Artistic Director of the After School Film Institute, a nonprofit organization mentoring at risk, inner-city students in South Florida.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 77- From Miami Vice in the 1980’s to her most recent work on a series of made for tv romance films, Elayne Schneiderman Schmidt has worked on than 40 films and television series, most of them in Florida, including The Birdcage, Moonlight and The Florida Project just to name a few. She talks about her loyalty to and her love of filming in Florida, what attracts her to projects, and her advice for the next generation of industry professionals in Florida.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 76- Dana Pellerin is the Studio Sales & Business Development Representative at Universal Studios Florida Production Group. Dana began his career with Universal Studios Florida Production Group in 2014. Prior to Universal, he freelanced as a production assistant and coordinator on numerous commercials all over Florida. Dana talks about being responsible for client relationships and packaging bids for studio facilities, the backlot, offices, and other production service rentals on the lot as well as the precautions in place to ensure safe and healthy productions, all while being interviewed from the USFPG Podcast Center/Broadcast Center. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 75- Florida resident Michael S. Baumohl is veteran publicist in the film industry. He was the unit publicist for Universal Pictures for 50 films, including “Spartacus,” moved to Europe as the unit publicist for “Lawrence of Arabia,” joined Warner Bros as Executive Director of Advertising & Publicity for the UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and served as Managing Director of European Operations for Lucas Films. Michael returned to the U.S. and now owns an entertainment consultancy, working with indie producers and companies providing finance, business affairs, co-production, film festival, sales and marketing, licensing & merchandising, subsidy and contract advice while continuing to be a member of the Motion Picture Academy of Arts & Science. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 74- Film Florida member Rich Roddman is an accomplished editor, colorist and digital imaging technician with more than 30 years of professional experience. He advises a variety of clients in purchasing equipment and software for field and post-production along with developing workflows to optimize the time and visual quality of their projects. Before moving to Florida, Rich was the Senior Editor for production companies in New York and New Jersey. His company, SilverBox Studios, is located in Largo, Florida and they specialize in commercials, digital media, independent films, & more. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 73- Jeff Friday is the founder of the American Black Film Festival and one of the most innovative entrepreneurs in the film and television industry. He talks about ABFF being the premiere platform that introduces filmmakers of color to the industry and has created opportunities for people of color outside of Hollywood’s doors by helping them find their inroad. Jeff is a successful live event producer; he has financed numerous independent films; created & executive produced television specials; and produced a feature documentary called Storm over Brooklyn for HBO in partnership with Emmy and Oscar winning production company Lightbox all while serving as CEO of ABFF Ventures LLC, a multifaceted company specializing in the production of live events, television and films focused on African American culture. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 72- Matthew Curtis is the Director of Programming and Tim Anderson is the Programming Coordinator for one of the premiere film festivals in the country, the Florida Film Festival, celebrating its 30th year in 2021. They talk about the festival being an Oscar Qualifying Festival, the evolution of the Florida Film Festival, their favorite memories from years past, and what to look forward to at the 2021 Florida Film Festival, April 9-22 in Central Florida. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 71- Miami native, award winning writer, producer and director Jose Daniel Freixas is best known for being the co-writer and producer of the feature film MAGIC CITY MEMOIRS, Executive Produced by Academy Award nominated actor Andy Garcia. Jose Daniel talks his start in the industry as a PA, where he laid the groundwork for a very successful career. He's also the Co-Founder of Exilium, a South Florida-based film and television company specialized in developing, producing, and financing content for Film, Television, Digital, and commercial platforms. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 70- Florida-based actor, writer, communications professional and Film Florida member Thom Gossom Jr. talks his journey from Birmingham, Alabama to Auburn University where he was the first African American athlete in the Southeastern Conference to walk on, earn a full scholarship and graduate. He is featured in the HBO special, "Breaking the Huddle," about integration of Southern college football. His acting career has spanned film, television and the stage, and his credits include some of the biggest films and television series of the last 30 years. Thom is also the owner and President of communications firm Best Gurl Inc. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 69- Actress and Florida native Brooklynn Prince burst on the scene at age 7 with her performance in "The Florida Project" but she started her career at age 2. Brooklynn talks about getting started in the industry, everything surrounding “The Florida Project,” her love of Disney, and the opportunities that have come her way after her breakout performance. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 68- Paul Maslansky’s career has spanned more than 50 years and while his credits are numerous, he is most known for being a Producer and eventually Executive Producer on the Police Academy franchise. Paul shares great stories about his start in the industry, his winding worldwide road in the industry, what the last 35+ years have been like being involved in one of the most iconic franchises in comedic film history, and more. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 67- Republican State Representative James Buchanan from Sarasota County is a native of Michigan, but graduated from Florida State University and earned his MBA from the University of South Florida. Rep Buchanan is a strong supporter of the film, television and digital media industry. He talks about his time in the Florida State Seminoles Football Program, his support for the industry, and more. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 66- Republican State Representative Mike Caruso from Palm Beach County was born in Washington, D.C. but has lived in Florida for more than 30 years. In addition to being a legislator, Representative Caruso is a Certified Public Accountant and he’s also strong supporter of the film, television and digital media industry. He talks about his legislative initiatives, why he supports the film, television and digital media so strongly, barefoot waterskiing, and more. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 65- Republican State Representative Vance Aloupis from Miami-Dade County was born in Maine but is a graduate of the University of Miami. In addition to being a legislator, Representative Aloupis is an advocate for early childhood education and serves as the CEO of The Children’s Movement of Florida. He’s also a big supporter of the film, television and digital media industry. He talks about his legislative initiatives, his support for the industry, great advice for those wanting to advocate for the industry in Tallahassee, and more. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 64- Danny Dávila is an accomplished Production Designer, Art Director and now Director. Danny talks about getting started in the industry in Miami, his role in a production and lots of "Graceland" and "Burn Notice" stories. Additional credits include "Pain and Gain," "The Baker and the Beauty," "Cake," "Kevin (Probably) Saves the World" and more. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 63- Accomplished film and video colorist, and co-founder of Mixing Light, Patrick Inhofer talks about his career in delivering high-quality programming for broadcast, commercial, corporate and indie clients. He also talks about his 10+ years teaching others how to digitally color correct and has been active in developing community resources for professional and aspiring colorists with Tao of Color and Mixing Light. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 62- Film Florida Government Relations consultant Slater Bayliss is a Partner at The Advocacy Group at Cardenas Partners, one of the top political and government affairs firm in Florida. He has worked in local, state, and federal government policy issues for over two decades. In the early 2000’s he served in Governor Jeb Bush’s administration. Preceding his tenure in the Governor’s office, Slater functioned as special assistant to the Convention Manager for the 2000 Republican National Convention. Slater currently serves on the National Board of Maverick PAC, an organization that promotes next generation leaders in public service. He discusses the Florida House and Senate 2020 elections, what to look for from the new Florida Speaker of the House and Senate President, how COVID-19 will impact Florida's budget and how industry professionals can help efforts in Tallahassee. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 61- Shana Gorondy and Christina Hollerbach talk about “The Right Stuff” filming in Sanford. Shana’s home was used as a location in the series and Christina started Film Sanford, which is a group that promotes Sanford as a filming destination. Watch “The Right Stuff” on Disney+ and view photos of filming at Shana’s home at http://bit.ly/TRSSanford. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 60- Joyce Gilliard is a film and television hair stylist and founder of iSAFE! TV & FILM, LLC. Joyce was seriously injured when she was struck by a freight train on the set of "Midnight Rider," the incident that killed camera assistant Sarah Jones. Since the tragedy, Joy has focused her efforts to bring awareness to safety in the film and television industry. Joyce talks about her career, that day on the set of "Midnight Rider" and her quest to keep cast and crew safe on set. For more visit https://www.isafetvandfilm.com/ or e-mail joyce@isafetvandfilm.com. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 59- Lori Rubinstein is the Executive Director of the Behind the Scenes Foundation. The Behind the Scenes Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 2005 to create and support charitable programs for the entertainment technology industry. The Behind the Scenes charity issues grants to entertainment technology professionals in need due to serious illness or injury. It works closely with related industry charities and social service organizations to assist clients to the fullest extent possible. The Foundation raises funds through events, programs and donations. For more info, visit btshelp.org or e-mail mh@btshelp.org. Audio editing by Rob Hill.

Film Florida Podcast Episode 58- Todd Thompson is a writer, producer and director and Joy Kigin is an actress, writer and producer. Both are Central Florida-based and they are working on a historical Florida story. They talk about "The Highwaymen," what’s the story, what attracted them to it, the challenges COVID-19 is playing in the production, and when we will see the results. Audio editing by Rob Hill.