Best in Fest
Host Leslie LaPage, Director of LaFemme International Film Festival uncovers the Secrets of Filmmaking with her lineup of industry professional guests. In every episode you will learn things like how to make the most out of the film festival circuit, how to find a great distribution partner, how to attract A list talent, finding the perfect representation, the dirty little secrets of Hollywood and much more.
Episodes
209 episodes
From Script to Screen: The Hustle Behind Hollywood’s Hidden Gems - Ep #210
Award-winning screenwriter Amir Ohebsion joins Best in Fest to share the real journey behind getting an indie film made—from winning Slamdance to self-producing his own features. Discover the highs, the hustle, and the hard truths of H...
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31:58
From Model to Movie Star: Blake Boyd on Acting, Hollywood & Taking Risks - Ep #209
What does it take to go from modeling to starring in films with Hollywood legends? Actor Blake Boyd joins Best in Fest to share his journey—from off-Broadway stages to leading roles in movies like Cash Collectors. He dishes on...
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35:42
From Startups to Superheroes: Nimrod May’s Journey with God’s Gang - Ep #208
What happens when a media strategist and startup expert turns his passion into an animated series with a mission? In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with Nimrod May, the visionary behind God’s Gang, ...
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38:36
Living and Working on the Spectrum in Hollywood with Chelsea Darnell - Ep # 207
Chelsea is currently the casting director for "Love on the Spectrum, but when she was little, Chelsea would spend her time imitating characters and singing songs. This is all in spite of the fact that she was diagnosed with Autism and had to wo...
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33:59
Post-Production for Independent Film with Jijo Reed - Ep #206
Jijo Reed, recognized by LA WEEKLY and NEW YORK POST as "Top Trendsetter in 2023" is an Emmy Winning Producer, 16 time Telly Award Winner, and Executive Producer of over 80 feature films and/or series.Latest feature films include...
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42:43
The Power of Female TV and Film Editors with Stacy Halbach - Ep #205
With over 25 years in the entertainment industry, Stacy Halbach has honed her craft across a wide spectrum of genres, including biographies, documentaries, crime dramas, competition shows, reality TV, and an array of promotions and pilot projec...
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40:14
Producing Independent Film in a Contracting Hollywood with Farah White - Ep #204
Farah White is an Actress, Producer, Director and Writer but does whatever needs to be done depending on the day! Her love for the entire filmmaking processis obvious by the wide spectrum of genres in her resume which spans over 25 years. S...
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41:44
From Entrepreneur to Actor with Rashaana Shah - Ep #203
Rashaana Shah, a Serial Entrepreneur and actor works in the Film, Music & Art space. She is a producer with Mulberry Films, a books-...
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34:42
How to Avoid Legal Problems in Hollywood with Nadia Davari - Ep #202
Nadia Davari is an entertainment attorney with extensive experience across a spectrum of fields including film, television (both scripted and unscripted), documentaries, music, influencer branding, technology, fashion, and startups. She is know...
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39:11
From Stage to Screen: A journey to Screenwriting with Bart Baker - Ep #201
With over 40 years of experience in theater, film, television, and prose, Bart’s career began in theater, where he has had eight plays produced around the world. The film rights to his play, RELAY, were bought by Warner Bros., leading him into ...
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47:33
From Conan O'brien to the Launch of Jett Road Studios with Will Becton - Ep #200
In this episode, we sit down with Will Becton, a creative force who’s charted an inspiring path from working with comedy legend Conan O'Brien to launching his own production company, Jett Road Studios<...
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43:43
Creating Characters That Connect for Graphic Novels with Vadim Govorov - Ep #199
Hailing from Ukraine, Vadim Govorov is a professional deep sea diver who has plunged into every ocean on the planet. He recently moved from his longtime NYC harbor base to the swamps of Florida, in and around which, he works full-time. His unde...
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22:57
The4 Best of Best in Fest 2024
In this special "Best Of" episode, we’re rolling the credits on some of the most insightful, inspiring, and entertaining moments from past episodes. Whether you're a filmmaker, producer, or just a cinephile at heart, relive expert tips, behind-...
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35:50
From The Daily Show to Teen Titans: A Guide to Writing for Every Screen with Rob Kutner - Ep #197
Rob Kutner has won 5 Emmys, a Peabody, a TCA, and a Grammy writing for such shows as TBS’ “CONAN” and “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and co-created the fact-based comedy TV show “Ga...
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35:07
Laughing Through Life, Love, and a Few Exes Along the Way with Grace Fraga - Ep #196
Grace Fraga is an award winning Latina actress, comedian, writer, podcaster and producer was inducted into the National Comedy Hall of Fame in 2020. Grace has appeared on national television on NBC, A&E, CBS, Discovery Channel, ...
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31:22
Behind the Curtain of Comedy with President of the Laugh Factory David Fuhrer - Ep #195
David Fuhrer[1] is an American inventor and entrepreneur. ...
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30:48
From Women in Tech to AI in Film with Chaitra Vedullapalli - Ep #194
Chaitra Vedullapalli is a renowned entrepreneur and a Go-To-Market (GTM) expert, revered for her proficiency in coaching tech founders. Her skills have guided hundreds of tech companies to leverage cloud market places that have ...
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35:38
Bulletproof Storytelling Structure with Jonathan Medici - Ep #193
Discover the ultimate framework for crafting stories that captivate and convert. In this episode, we break down the essential elements of a "bulletproof" storytelling structure, showing you how to engage your audience, build emotional connectio...
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37:08
An Insider Perspective on Making it in Hollywood with Brian Patacca - Ep #200
Brian Patacca helps actors get what they want without all the struggle. He’s helped 724 actors find representation and is even known as “The Representation Whisperer”.Through his wildly popular online courses (Audition Magnet® ...
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39:19
The Assistant Who Wrote Hollywood’s Next Hit with Xaque Gruber - Ep #191
Meet the unsung hero of the Hollywood hustle: Xaque Gruber, the assistant who went from scheduling star-studded brunches to writing the screenplay everyone is buzzing about. In this episode, we spill the tea (and probably a few too many cappucc...
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34:36
Filmmaking in Korea vs. the United States with Lina Suh - Ep #190
Lina Suh grew up in Seoul, Korea, the American Midwest, and New York. She received an MFA from the University of Southern California in film production, and previously a BFA from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts in Dramatic Writing. Lina produced...
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31:48
Winners at LaFemme Film Festival 2024 - Ep #188
Join us as we celebrate the standout winners of the 2024 LaFemme Film Festival! In this episode, we’ll dive into the inspiring stories and creative journeys behind the winning films that took center stage at this year’s festival. From groundbre...
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2:21:27
Get the Most Out of Your Documentary with Danielle Beverly - Ep #188
Danielle Beverly's latest documentary is Qatar Stars. It is touring the festival circuit, including a screening at the 2024 LA Femme International Film Festival.Beverly began her career at Chicago’s PBS affiliate and has direct...
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27:49
Funding Independent Film with Jane Clark - #187
Jane is a storyteller. Through her company, FilmMcQueen, she has brought numerous shorts and 3 feature films to life, winning 18 awards and another 8 nominations by envisioning strong characters in visceral environments. She has worked in film ...
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43:51
Finding Work in Hollywood as a Neurodivergent Individual with Jason Weissbrod - Ep #186
7 years ago, Jason co-founded Spectrum Laboratory (aka Spec Labs), along with Garth Herberg, and what an amazing wild ride it’s been! Spectrum Laboratory was founded in 2015 with the idea of creating original works of film, music, and animation...
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30:15