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.
Best in Fest
Emilio Hughes Martinez on Writing, Directing & the Future of Film
•
Leslie LaPage
In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with Emilio Hughes Martinez — award-winning filmmaker, writer, and former Vice President of Development at Eclectic Pictures (Olympus Has Fallen, The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, Lovelace).
Emilio shares his journey from studio development executive to independent filmmaker, revealing what production companies really look for in scripts, how to finance films without studio backing, and why the next wave of cinema belongs to bold indie creators.
In this episode, we explore:
- 🎥 What studio development executives actually look for in scripts
- 📝 Common mistakes new screenwriters make when pitching producers
- 🏆 How his award-winning shorts (The Method and The Fourth Branch) were created on micro-budgets
- 💰 Financing indie films through friends, family, and creative resourcefulness
- 🎬 Guerrilla filmmaking tactics to bypass costly permits
- 🌎 Why more productions are leaving California — and what comes next
- 🤖 AI’s impact on screenwriting and why human storytelling still matters
- 🔥 The shift from $200M studio films to smaller, high-impact indie projects
- 🚀 His upcoming feature about fame, exploitation, and AI-generated performance
Emilio also breaks down his writing process, working with Oscar-winning co-writer Nick Vallelonga (Green Book), and why instinct-driven storytelling often beats rigid outlining.