Passionista Q&A Episode: Accidental Cuddles

Welcome to our special, fan-interaction episode! 

In this episode of PassionPod, our hosts (Tosca, Lauren & Ali) interact with you, the fans, through user-submitted voicemails and emails! They answer questions about  how Passionflix selects books to adapt, upcoming films this year and the overall behind-the-scenes process behind creating Passionflix movies and TV series. They discuss their favorite book tropes, genres, and specific romance novels they love. The team shares personal anecdotes about gifts from fans, including fan art and heartfelt messages.

Do you have a question or comment you would like featured on a future episode? Leave us a message today!

Call us at (770) 648-3677 or email at info@passionflix.com

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome to PassionPod: Fan Interaction Episode!
• 0:30 Fan Art and Gifts from Our Passionate Community
• 1:51 How to Connect and Share with Us
• 4:56 Emily from Roswell, GA
• 10:15 Call-In Comment from Brazil!
• 12:08 Sherry from South Carolina
• 17:53 The Importance of Subscriber Support
• 19:47 Day One Engagement on Black Dagger Brotherhood
• 21:32 Avoiding Spoilers and Enjoying the Experience
• 24:10 Surprise Caller: Indigo's Stress-Free Banana Song
• 26:13 Choosing Books for Passionflix Adaptations
• 32:51 Favorite Romance Novels and How We Got Into Romance
• 38:07 Contact Info

Transcript

Lauren: All right. Welcome back to another episode of PassionPod. 

Ali: It's been so long, 

Lauren: it's been so long. Um, this is a really fun episode actually, because this is our fan interaction episode, the first of many because what's great is that we have the call-in number that people can call and leave. Questions in.

So we'll listen to a few of those today and people can also email in a question. And, um, I think eventually we're gonna have some episodes where we can show some fan art that people send in. 

Tosca: Oh, that's so great. 

Lauren: Yeah. I had one person emailed about fan art, but she, she emailed saying that she had it. She didn't send it right in that moment.

And I was like, you can send it. And so she'll probably send that along today. Um, but it was. Black Dagger, brotherhood. 

Tosca: There's been so many like beautiful Black Dagger Brotherhood art 

Lauren: and I think she was actually, uh, either a founding or signature member who came to set and she gave, she did little portraits of each of the brothers, and so she gave them to the brothers.

Tosca: Oh my gosh. 

Lauren: And I think she took pictures of them for her own sake and she'll send those pictures in, but they have the physical copies, which I think is really sweet. 

Tosca: Wow. 

Lauren: Yeah. What's really nice is that we have founding and signature members come to these set visits and they'll even have gifts for us.

I know like either a little goodie bag with like, one girl brought a mimosa kit last time and I was like, thanks, I'll use that this weekend. Um, and then, uh. But they'll also just bring really sweet things like our, one of our founding members, Deb, who I love, she always like, she'll gift us these tote bags with our initial like, oh no, it's really beautiful, really thoughtful things.

Yeah, and, and sometimes people will mail us stuff. I actually, I have one in my office. Uh, it was this giant thank you card that had some pictures from Passion Con. Yeah. And it was like, thanks for all your work at Passion. I think you got one too. And so did you. I did. Mm-hmm. 

Ali: I have sand art. 

Lauren: Yes. Art. We have sand art from, uh, from Brazil.

Uh, one of our fans in Brazil sent that to us along with some other goodies from Brazil, which is really cool. So it's neat. We love when you guys send us stuff, um, and even if you just email it in, it's fun to see as well. So if you have any fan art that you haven't shared yet, be sure to do so. Tag us and we'll feature it.

And tag us. Yeah, tag us. Do hashtag Passionflix. This is, this is also fan art. Yes. That is. Someone crocheted that. Yeah. Um, which is really cool. For us. She also crocheted this Passionflix sign that if people go back into the, the videos of our Passionflix Instagram page, Ali's employment video of like welcoming Ali to Passionflix.

You and her are dancing, holding the crocheted sign. Oh yeah. 

Ali: Oh my God. 

Lauren: Yeah. I don't know where that sign is in. Funny is, 

Tosca: um, was it Mila? Yes, it was Mila. Oh, okay. Yeah. Nice. From uh, Quebec. Yeah, yeah, yeah. 

Lauren: She's in Canada. Yeah. Um, but I think the crocheted sign of Passionflix is in your office at home now.

Tosca: Yes. And then I also have somebody else gave us like a license plate Passionflix. 

Lauren: Oh yeah. 

Tosca: That's in my office as well. I love it. I forgot about that. It's so great. And we've had like, um, don't we have like a hand carved, um. A wooden case for, um, wine, different wine openness and, and wine kit. Yes. And the drip box.

That's really nice. No. Yeah. 

Lauren: Awesome. Some awesome stuff. Yeah. This is Ali's sand art. Yeah. And she, she literally put individual beads. Yeah. Like it's a whole jar full of sand. And she did different colored sands to create this landscape. Yeah. Yeah. It's really beautiful. It's so beautiful. 

Ali: I got, I think she sent that when I first started working here about five years ago. With me everywhere. 

Lauren: We have my office have, we have a mini Passionflix one as well. That's, that's here somewhere. 

Tosca: I have one. Yeah. It's in my office. Yeah. Yeah. 

Lauren: This episode's exciting, um, because we'll listen to some people who left voicemails for us specifically using the callin number, which that callin number again is seven.

Seven oh. 6, 6, 4 8, 3 6, 7, 7. But you can kind of leave a question for us anywhere. Yeah. Like the YouTube comments, I think you can comment on different, uh, podcast platforms as well. Like Apple Music's added one and so has Spotify. Mm-hmm. Um, you can also email us at info@passionflix.com. You can comment on Instagram.

We'll try to answer those. You know, anywhere on X and on X. Yep. Anywhere. I think even Facebook posts. We still do. So you can comment on Facebook as well and we'll check there. Facebook, 

Ali: you think we do Facebook posts? I'm just making fun. 

Lauren: We, we look at all comments. That's the important thing to know. I know.

I know that we do Facebook because I'm a grandma and I'm still on Facebook. 

Ali: No, I'm teasing you. The takeaway is we do, we look at everything. Yes. We look at all of our comments and dms and Yes, yes. You can leave it anywhere. Yes. 

Tosca: Um, I think youTube, Instagram info@passionflix.com and the telephone number, the best ones to go to.

Um, 'cause those ones we look at literally daily. 

Daily, we see those daily. Yes. No, that's great. So, um, let's test this out. Okay. Um, I, where did you get these questions from? Which one of those places? Just kidding. 

Lauren: Well, so that's the, the thing that we're testing out is we're, well, we'll be, we tested it briefly in the last episode where we heard two of our voicemail listeners call in.

Um, so let's test this out. Joe, would you mind playing one of the voicemails for us? 

Emily: Hi, my name's Emily and I'm calling from Roswell, Georgia. And I'm just curious what your favorite book trope is, like when you go to the bookstore, what is your, your go-to comfort book? Um, yeah, just curious. Thanks 

Lauren: em. Emily from Roswell.

That is a great question. 

Tosca: Yeah. I think I'm an enemies to lovers kind of. Mm-hmm. Girl, 

Lauren: you stole mine. 

Ali: No, it's mine too. 

Lauren: I'm an anti lovers. Yeah. Um, trope wise, 'cause and tropes really fun. Um, Ali, what would you describe tropes as for people who don't know what tropes or romance novels are? 

Ali: Not the theme.

Um, how do you 

Lauren: No, I would say kinda like a theme. Something that like, uh, an identifying factor of the book. Like a yes. Yeah. Yes. Yeah, it'll be enemies to lovers or forced proximity or, mm-hmm. Um, 

Ali: surprise pregnancy. 

Lauren: Surprise pregnancy. Yep. That's one. Uh, age gap. Only one bed. 

Tosca: Only one bed. 

Lauren: That's a true for sure.

People, two, two characters will show up at an inn of some kind. Um, or like a, b and b, and they, they have to stay somewhere for the night, but oh no, they're getting there so late that there's only one room left. And the room only has one bed course. Is that gonna be okay? Course it does. You're like, oh yeah, sure.

Oh, I'll sleep on the floor. Oh, it's a big bed. Just get in the bed and then. Then the rest is history. And then what? And then happens then either they, either they accidentally cuddled during the night or that's the moment they accidentally cuddled. No, like I suppose an accidental cuddle. That's a trope.

Tosca: That's a new trope. 

Lauren: Exactly. No accidental cuddles. Accidental cuddling is a real thing where they'll, they'll fall asleep. Me. Listen to me where they'll fall asleep on the opposite sides of the bed, but then they wake up like totally entwined with each other that they've like drawn to each other in the night and they didn't consciously make that trope.

Ali: So what you're saying is accidental, cuddling is your favorite trope. 

Lauren: No, that's, I mean, I do love that trope. I think it's cute. There was, uh, this, this is a sidetrack, but there was a, there was a vampire book that I read as like a YA romance. Um, it was called Hearts at Stake by Alexandra Har Harvey. Um, and she, she made the most accurate I.

Representation of someone waking up in the embrace of someone that they didn't mean to. And the vampire that she woke up in the arms of had like, almost felt like concrete. And she described it as like one of the most uncomfortable position ever. 'cause she's like, I have to pee. He's not letting me go.

Like, why am I surrounded by this hulking man? Like, I was just like, it's the funniest description of. Waking up in a bed with someone you, 

Ali: all I can think about is planes, trains and automobiles. Oh my God, yes. When Steve Martin wakes up and he's cuddling with John Candy. Yes, that's, that's what I'm thinking of.

Lauren: No, that's accidental cuddle. That's exactly what I mean by accidental cuddle. Gosh. 

Ali: Yeah, I get it. No, you're right. 

Lauren: You're right. But then, but outside of tropes, my favorite genre of his, of romance is probably historical romance. Yeah. I love like the regency, the Bridgerton. Um, type books. Those are my favorites.

Tosca: Those I love to make. Those those are great too. Yeah. I think mine's probably romantasy. Oh 

Lauren: yes. Romantasy iss great. Mm-hmm. And because I remember when I, when, when I first joined the company, you were super excited for the Wicked series. 'cause that was our story, kind of our rent. I know. It was our Awesome.

Tosca: It's great. And also Black Dagger Brotherhood, just like Yes. More paranormal. Mm-hmm. But like this other world Yeah. Stuff is really, it's just very exciting to me. Yeah. It's super sexy. It's very sexy. It is sexy. 

Lauren: Ali, what would your favorite genre of romance be? 

Ali: That's a great question. I'm a little all over the place because I do, I mean, you got me a little more into historical 'cause I didn't read a ton of historical before coming here.

Same with romantic outside of Twilight. I hadn't really read a lot in the romantic see or paranormal world. Um, I love a good small town. Good small town romance. 

Lauren: Those are just comforting. I love them 

Ali: and I do. And I in general, when I'm not reading romance, I read thrillers. So I do like a suspenseful. Yes.

Romantic suspense. 

Tosca: So did you read the Pumpkin Spice Cafe? 

Ali: No, not yet. That's that small town romance that. 

I'm gonna read it. 

Lauren: She, yeah, she has, Lori Gilmore has created this cast of characters in this town of Dream Harbor. And so each book follows a different couple who runs a different establishment in that town.

So it's The Pumpkins. I love it. Cafe. That's so in the first book, the second book is the Cinnamon Bun Bookstore. Uh, I think the third book is the Christmas Tree Farm, or one of, or something about Christmas trees. Yeah. Perfect. All great stuff. And then her fourth book that just released is The Strawberry, uh, pancake House.

Tosca: Classic. Love it. No, that's great. Love it. 

Lauren: Um, so it's, uh, yeah, I love that. No, a small town is so comforting. I've, I've recently gotten into also reading like the fire firefighter romance. 

Tosca: Ooh, firefighter. 

Lauren: Like small, like there was one romance I read, uh, where he was a firefighter and she. She had lost her husband in a fire.

Um, and then she and her baby were saved by a fireman. You learn later, that is him. And then, but, but they meet in a totally different town nearby. 

Tosca: Um, or there's only one bed or connection. 

Lauren: No. And they have to, they smell like cuddle. Yes, exactly. See, you've already read the book too. Um, okay. Well, can we take another call please?

Joe, get me out of this. 

Brazil: Hello, my name is Ian and I'm from Brazil. I just want to say that I'm so excited for the, the Black Dog, black Dog Brotherhood Hood Premieres in June. Thank you. 

Tosca: Thank you. You. That is so awesome. Thank you very much. I'm very excited for it too. I'm, I actually am like so excited for everyone to see this.

Lauren: No, I, I really wanna, you, you mentioned on the last episode that you guys have finalized the music for the title sequence, and I'm dying to listen to it. It's really mean that you haven't showed us yet. 

Ali: Can we listen to it today? Yeah. Sorry. Can we listen to it today? 

Lauren: Not like right now, but after this Oh yeah.

Not on the episode. Yeah. Sorry guys. There's some perks that come with the job and that's listening to stuff. 

Tosca: Maybe, 

Lauren: maybe that's so mean. Uh, but I love that, that, that we got that because, um, that call from Brazil, because it's a great example of the fact that people can leave comments too. We love hearing your comments even if's like, Hey, by the way, I love this movie.

Tosca: You know what? Actually that's, it's incredibly heartwarming and you know, we, we, we have this office and we have everybody comes to work and we. Inside the office, we're super enthusiastic and we, you know, we love what we do, we love what we make. Hearing you guys send messages or, or say positive things is so inspiring because it can be so hard.

You're just sitting there toiling like, you know, I, I'll, I'll spend the rest of the day in a dark room looking at color all day for eight hours. And, and so hearing that you guys are excited about it really. Is inspiring to me. It's, it's very, it's very exciting. So thank you very much for that. Yeah, I love that.

Lauren: All right, Joe, our next call please. 

Sherry: Sherry Lad, I'm calling from South Carolina. Um, I have a few questions. The first one is, where can I go to apply to be an extra in one of your movie? The next one is, can you please post an updated list of the books that you have optioned on the website or Facebook page?

And then also can you give us, um, an update on what films that you'll be working on this year? 

Lauren: Thanks. Okay. Thank you, Sherry. 

Tosca: Wow. Yeah. Lots of questions. I hope I have, I feel like, I feel like that was like a board meeting. I need to, well, the first question, here's my full cost. Here's the plan. Here's the entire production schedule. It's gonna be great. 

Lauren: But so the first part of that question that she asked, uh, how to become an extra, in one of our movies, we do offer the signature membership that you can, yeah. That you can subscribe for one year as a signature member. Um, the subscription price gets you a one year subscription as well as invitations to all of the sets and premieres.

Um, and that's a great way to get on set and you can meet other Passionista as well. Yeah. Um, and sometimes we'll use you in the back of a scene, which is cool. Yeah. If you want to. If you want to. Yeah. Yeah. No one is forced, uh, to go on. The screen if they don't want to be. But the invitation is there, uh, depending on the scene.

Tosca: Yeah. But it is kind of fun though. It's when you see signature members or founding members mm-hmm. In scenes with the actors. Mm-hmm. And they're, they're there, you know, eating dinner behind, you know. 

Lauren: Yep. It's cute. 

Tosca: Gabriel or something. 

Lauren: They'll try to find themselves too when the movie comes out. They'll be like, oh, this is, I can see myself really briefly on screen.

It's really cute. It's fun. I love that. 

Tosca: It's fun. I also love it when they come to set because, you know, signature members and finding members, they just know so much about the books. Mm-hmm. And so it's just, again, it's one of those moments where you just are, it's the enthusiasm of the, the fan of the, the work that's 

Lauren: Well, and they get to watch what's filming that day.

So you get to you, you step away from your monitor and you go to where they're sitting and you're like, Hey, how's it looking? They love it. They love it. Yeah. It's really great. Yeah. 

Ali: The actors like it too. 'cause they get that immediate feedback. Mm-hmm. They wouldn't know like that. So That's fabulous.

Lauren: Although sometimes we have to be like, remember, no reacting in, in the moment. It's quiet on set, you know? Um, that was great. So that, so that's the first part of the question. The other part was, um, do we have an updated list of everything we have coming up? We can, we will get an updated list out what we have.

Yeah, we'll, we'll post an updated list. I have most of it off the top of my head, but I don't wanna miss one in the moment, so, we'll, but we'll post an updated list 'cause Yeah, it is fun when people can see what we've got. 

Ali: Yeah. And then I know the next one was a question about, um. What, what else we're making this year and what's coming up.

And we had, we tackled it a little bit, um, within our founding members lounge on Facebook. But, and obviously you can speak more to it, but I did wanna say, 'cause we get a lot of questions on social media, uh, why aren't we getting more updates? And a lot of times we won't share updates until we get closer.

'cause we wanna make sure there's so many moving parts with production and we wanna make sure that we have everything really finalized. You know, beauty from pain's, been in the works for quite some time at this point. 

Tosca: Mm-hmm. 

Ali: Um. And we, I mean we're already in the casting process and it's probably the first you're hearing about it over the last couple weeks, but it's been in the works for a long time.

'cause we wanna make sure that we're giving you the most accurate information. 

Tosca: Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Because, you know, we will set a, a start date and we'll, like, our goal is to start treating at this on this date, but then we go, oh, well we actually haven't found our characters. We, it takes a little bit longer.

Let's make sure that we get the right people to play these roles or. The weather or whatever it is. And there's always something that, that could delay. It doesn't always delay, but could delay the production. And so, you know, I'd love to just list all the movies that we have going on. And we do, we have a entire schedule and it is, I go in there daily and we adjust dates and we, you know, we turn things, we, we, we, you know, see how we can fit them in into the year and, and where we're gonna film them and all sorts of things.

But, um. If we announce and then we have to change something, then people get really upset. And so things, there are so many moving pieces when it comes to actually making a a show. And so it could be that. We really love this actor for the role. Oh, we wanna shoot in April. Unfortunately, he's not available until June.

Right? Mm-hmm. Okay, great. Well, we can push the show, we can push production to June. So now we, if we'd announced that we were shooting in April, then people will get upset. So we, we would rather not, unfortunately. Yeah. But right now we're making beauty from pain. Mm-hmm. Our plan is to make royalty screwed.

Mm-hmm. We have, um, the first two episodes of, um. Black Dagger Brotherhood, season two written. Mm-hmm. Um, and there are some others that are in the works and we have scripts on them. We have, we have the, uh, the script, the last, the third draft or the script from Brave mm-hmm. That we'll send to Jennifer Armand tr and, um, and again, in that situation, I'm glad we didn't announce it because Anna is pregnant and so we have to wait until she's able to Yeah.

Perform. Um, and uh, yeah. And so there are a bunch. And then we're also looking at, you know. Different places that we can film. So we're looking at England. We were planning on shooting something in England this summer, but we're pushing it to next summer because we need to shoot something in. The summer that's gonna be that, you know, something else in the summer, royally screwed, um, that we can release this December.

So anyway, it's very complicated, but yeah. Yes, we're trying to make as many films as we can. We can really only make a movie every couple of months. Mm-hmm. Um, which I think is a lot. 

Lauren: That is a lot. Yeah. 

Tosca: And, uh. Yeah, we wanna make sure that it's done right. Yeah. 

Ali: Actually I wanted to adding onto that, um, we had some questions because in a previous podcast you mentioned that for Black Dagger Brotherhood, it would be really helpful for us if people signed up and subscribed on the first day release.

Can you talk a little bit about that? Because there was questions coming up within the different Facebook groups that we saw and they were interested in why and how that helps us. 

Tosca: Well, it makes a big difference to us if we know on day one. That everybody will subscribe and everybody will watch that show.

Then we know we can green light immediately. Mm. If everybody's gonna wait till the end and they're gonna pay 4 99 to watch six and a half hours worth of content. We won't be able to make the next one. It'll take us much longer. Mm-hmm. To be able to raise the money to make it happen. For us to be able to make the second, second season, the more people can actually subscribe and watch on day one and show us your enthusiasm for the show.

The more likely we'll be able to, you know, bring the production of season two up. 

Lauren: So, and for people who don't know what green light means, when you say green light, you mean, uh, moving forward with season two? 

Tosca: Yeah. We are going to move forward with season two. Season two is gonna happen. It's not, not gonna happen.

It's about the speed at which we can make it. 

Lauren: Yes. 

Tosca: So again, the more support we get early on, the more likely we can bring up the production schedule of season two. Yeah, it really comes down to that. Yeah. Like we want to see the enthusiasm on day one. Mm-hmm. And when we see the enthusiasm on day one, we can pull it forward.

If we don't see enthusiasm on day one, then we. Lose a little bit of momentum, unfortunately. 

Ali: Yeah. Yeah. All of the money that comes in from our subscribers goes directly into production. 100%. 

Tosca: Yes. All the money in the beginning for season one goes to season two. That's correct. 

Lauren: That's awesome. And I think that's really important for people to know. 'cause Yeah, it really is a matter of if you, if you show up and subscribe in that moment. That's what helps the most. 

Tosca: Yeah. 

Lauren: It's also helpful for you to watch the content if you're already a subscriber. Yes. But if you have friends who you wanna watch with, tell them about it and have them subscribe to, and you can do watch parties from your different houses.

Tosca: Yeah. 

Lauren: And I think that that's really great. 

Tosca: It also does make, I mean, you'll hear this also on Netflix and Amazon and all them, they all wanna see people watch on day one. Mm-hmm. Day one makes a difference. It shows enthusiasm. It shows that you really want this. And when you see, when, when we see the enthusiasm on day one, it's the same thing when, when buying a book, right?

Mm-hmm. So we were all getting really excited for an, we were all really excited for Onyx Storm to come out. Mm-hmm. So when it came out, everyone bought it the first week immediately gets on the bestseller list. So does it matter that you watch it or, or that you buy it the second week, of course. And you wanna watch it and, or you wanna watch our shows and you wanna buy it?

By the book, the second, third, fourth week. But that first week makes a difference. Yeah. And so please watch on the first day that it's released. Please tell your friends. Please have everybody subscribe on day one to watch Black Dagger Brotherhood. It does make a difference. Thank you. Yeah, 

Lauren: and as a little extra incentive to that, um, because we're releasing episodes weekly, we are planning to have our PassionPod episodes around that same time be companion episodes.

So one episode we'll talk about episode one, another episode two. And so be sure to watch once a week as well. Don't just save it till the end. Subscribe the first day, watch once a week and then catch up on the PassionPod. 

Tosca: I think another thing that's, thank you and that's a great idea. Yeah. I'm looking forward to it.

Another thing, and Ali, you brought this up. There are a lot of people that have not read. Mm-hmm. Dark Lover mm-hmm. And Black Dagger Brotherhood, season one, they haven't read the book. And so if you wait until the end, all of the spoilers will be out. Yeah. You'll, you'll have, there'll be nothing that you haven't read about.

Yeah. And so watching it, and these are like really intense episodes, they're great. Mm-hmm. I, there's so much jam packed into each episode. Yes. Yeah. That watching them. Once, uh, watching them one at a time actually helps. 'cause you watch it, you think about it, you live in that world for the week. Mm-hmm.

You're excited about the next one. You get to chat about it with your friends. You get to listen to the podcast where it's companion piece and then you go into the next one and it, I think it creates that, that feeling of excitement that I miss. You know, from, yeah. From some of the early days of, of television.

Lauren: Agreed. Yeah. Agreed. 

Ali: And it's fun just chatting with your community and coming up with fan theories and Yes. And just being able to take it one step at a time and really take that whole episode in and talk with Passionistas. Yeah. It makes such a difference. 

Lauren: No, it's awesome. Yeah, I, I'm glad that we got to cover all of that.

Um, especially, uh, reiterating that we are. Making things as fast as we can. Yeah. And the fact that we, um, can't announce everything right. When we're green lighting it, because we need to make sure everything's in place first. And I think people can understand that for sure. Yeah. 

Tosca: Yeah. So thank you. But I think it is something to let people know.

And, and I know a lot of people do know this, but the money, that passion, Passionflix is very small. Yes. But all of our money, all of the money from Subscript, uh, all of the money from subscriptions goes into making. Productions. Yeah. So if people subscribe for one month and then cancel and then go, where's the next thing?

You're like, well. We have to, we have to build up the coffers. Yeah. Unfortunately. Yeah. We, that is, that is it. Making films cost us money. Mm-hmm. And, uh, and, and if we wanna make better and higher budget films, we actually do. And we wanna, if we wanna make them faster, yeah. We do need people to continue subscribing.

Yeah. We continue supporting the more people that continue subscribing and continue supporting, the more content we make, the faster we make it. 

Lauren: Mm-hmm. Yes. No. Exactly. It all goes directly into production 100%. Which is amazing. Yeah. 

Tosca: And so thank you. Thank you very much for your support. 

Lauren: Yes, everyone who supports us already and everyone who's about to support us, we appreciate it so much.

Yeah, yeah. Um, thank you Sherry, for that question that led to a lot of great other stuff we wanted to talk about, so that was wonderful. Um, so for our next call, I've been told this is a surprise caller. 

Indigo: Hey Passionistas, it's Indigo. Your favorite hair and makeup artist from the Black Dagger Brotherhood, and I'm calling because Tosca came up with a beautiful song when she would get stressed during shooting.

And I think that everyone deserves to hear it. So Tosca, would you please give us a rendition of Stress-Free Banana? Love you guys. 

Lauren: Oh my God. First of all, I am obsessed with indigo. Indigo is the lovely, uh, uh, head of of makeup, uh, for black dagger brotherhood. Um, she also worked on a few other things for us, including Tosca Talks.

She's amazing. Um, but I don't know if I've heard this Tosca, so I need You haven't I have not. Well, 'cause I wasn't, I was on some night shoots with you guys, but I wasn't on all of the, every shoot day, so I think I missed the, whatever this is. 

Tosca: Oh my God. I'm gonna, I I'm like, it's been so long. Um, uh, we were singing, I was driving to set, Maddie McCormick was in the car with me.

Mm-hmm. And I would be, um. I am a stress-free banana. It's perfect. Where are my Starbursts? I always wanted it that way. 

Lauren: Oh my gosh. That's the most beautiful thing I've ever heard. That also makes me think of, if any, a fun fact about Tosca is that she survives off Starbursts because she needs like a little energy boost.

She has a Starburst. She's like, now I can make it through the rest of my day. Exactly. 

Tosca: Mm-hmm. Now that song's gonna be in my head all day. Thanks, indigo. 

Lauren: Yeah, thanks Indigo. 

Tosca: That, but it would literally would be. On set because yeah, sometimes like you're, you're shooting something and you are like. Uh, you couldn't, you can't get it exactly how, how you want it in your head.

And then they're like, well, what do you think? Is that gonna be a breakfast? I was like, yeah, I always wanted it that way. It's great. It's great. It's perfect. 

Lauren: This is incredible. Um, thank you Joe. That really was a surprise call. Um, more people should do that. Surprise us. Call in, say hi. Um, but I do, actually, I have an email that we got.

Okay. Um, and I'll read that out now. Uh, it's from Emily Stamp. Hi, my name is Emily. How do you pick a book to make into a Passionflix movie? What has to be in the book to make it a hot fire emoji movie? Uh, and do you see Passionflix ever filming in Canada? Love your movies, Emily. 

Tosca: I take it Emily's from Canada.

Lauren: I that's what I would assume too. 

Tosca: So yes, I'm also Canadian. 

Lauren: Yes you are. Yeah. Um, so would we ever film in Canada, do you think? 

Tosca: I think if the story requires us to film in Canada, then sure. It's, it's actually can be a little harder to film in Canada. They have a different way of, um, making movies, some, you know, so, um, they make movies very, very fast.

Yeah. So like in 12 days and Wow, I can't, I, I take a little longer to shoot my movies because time Yeah. Makes a big difference. Yeah. Um, but, uh, yeah, love Canada. It's great. 

Lauren: And, um. How do we pick a book to make it into a movie? 

Tosca: That's a good question for you, Lauren. 

Lauren: Yes, it's a good question for me. Um, well, we, we pay attention to what people are reading.

Um, 'cause we definitely, we try to pick, uh, either an author's more most popular book or their bestseller or it's honestly the story that, that the, the readers want to see the most on screen. And that could be all of their books as well. 'cause I definitely have authors that I wanna see every single book of theirs onscreen.

But we do try to listen into what, um. What a certain author has that people are like, I've visual visualized this as a movie the whole time. Um, and we have to, we have to make sure it's, it's something that can be filmed. 'cause there's definitely some stuff out there that's a little bit harder to put on screen.

Um, and we also wanna make sure that it's a story that really speaks to us as well as speaks to readers. Um, and that, that's important as well because if, if it speaks to us, it's a good sign that it'll speak to other people, including those who haven't read the book, who wanna watch the movie. 

Ali: Yeah. And we also bring our own recommendations in. We do. So I think we've all sent you books that are now being made into the movie stuff. 

Lauren: Yeah. I think you, you were the one who recommended Beauty from Pain. Yeah. Yeah. Which is cool. So yeah, it's, it's a group effort. Um, I know that your assistant Stacia is reading some stuff right now too, that Oh, she is.

She'll mention to me and, yeah. Cool. Yeah. So, um, it's definitely a group effort 'cause we're all fans of the romance genre. Yeah. So we all read books constantly. Um, I, I've developed a bit of a bad habit since we moved here to Georgia in that I will go to one of my favorite local bookstores and if they have a new romance novel on the shelf.

I, I sometimes I won't even read the back of the book. I will just buy it because I think this would be nice to read at some point. So my library has gotten a bit excessive. 

Tosca: Yeah. 

Lauren: Um, but no, lucky you we're constantly I know. I was like, I can just shop on my shelf. This's great. Should I should do this more versus spending more money on books.

But I, I just love books and I love the romance genre in general, and I know we all do. So. Um, yeah. What, what, what makes us pick a book to turn it into a movie? There's a few factors, but mostly it's, we want to tell stories that people want to see. 

Tosca: Mm-hmm. Absolutely is the biggest one. And I think it also, for us, it's like.

Sometimes we just, we also wanna try something a little different. Yeah. Right. So if we've done a romantic comedy, maybe we do something a little bit more on the suspense. Mm-hmm hmm. Or if we do a drama, maybe we do paranormal. Mm-hmm. Maybe we do, um, you know, at some point we'll do regency. That'll be really great.

Lauren: That'll be fun. 

Tosca: Um, but we try and we're trying to mix it up a little bit. Mm-hmm. Yeah. So, you know, we have Black Dagger Brotherhood. Now that's very action paranormal. It's. Fantastic series. Then we'll have Beauty from Pain. Yeah. And then Royally Screwed. And so it's just slightly different for each one.

Yeah. And then next year we'll let you know what our uh, next year plan is. Yeah. We are the one-stop shop for romance adaptations. Yes. Um, we are the best at it, in my opinion. Mm-hmm. Um, I think that the reason being is because we truly. Our fans. Yeah. Yeah. Um, we love our authors. Mm-hmm. And, and we want these books adapted the way that the author truly sees this done.

And, and I think that we, we go to great effort to make that happen. Yeah. Yeah. Um, and, and it's, it's actually really. Um, enjoyable because as a fan of the books and a fan of the authors, we then get to spend all this time with the author Yeah. Really getting into their minds. Mm-hmm. Really trying to understand how they want their book made.

Yeah. Um, and I think I mentioned last week how fun it is to chat with Georgia Cates. Yes. I mean, I mean, it was, I, of course I love chatting with JR Ward as well. It's just highly enthusiastic, but, but. Uh, recently Georgia Cates just like so much fun and you can picture her mm-hmm. Walking around answering, you know, answering my messages and stuff.

So it's, um, it's really great that we get to spend time with them and, and again, we're the one-stop shop for romance book adaptations and. It's because we love it. 

Lauren: Yes. Yeah, exactly. We're we're fans, so we cater to the fans. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. That's one of my favorite things about Passionflix that sets us apart from other studios who might be doing romance novel adaptations, is that we try to stick to the book as close as possible.

Obviously, some things need to be adapted because it's different. Medium, it's film versus on the page, but we, we still try to keep all those fun little details in there that people love. Mm-hmm. Like the chocolate cake from Gabriel Inferno. 

Tosca: Um, oh my gosh. 

Ali: And we don't change the ending 

Lauren: and we never, we don't never change the ending.

We never change the ending. 

Ali: That's the worst. Yeah. 

Lauren: That is the worst when they do that. You can't. Yeah. Oh my gosh. We never change the ending. And yeah, we try to keep all those details that people love in there. Um, so, and that, that is a great lead into me asking. Another thing you can, uh, leave in our either info email or the phone number, is you can call in and suggest romances that you think you read.

Tosca: Oh, please do. We love it. 

Lauren: We, Ali will sometimes post on social different like, Hey, what are you reading right now? We look at every comment, but so like, please just feel free to constantly bombard us with, with recommendations and I'll add them to the list. 

Tosca: Yeah, yeah. We have great. TBR list? 

Lauren: Yes, we do. We do.

Um, and Tosca, is there anything specific that you think has to be in a book to make it a hot movie?

Tosca: Um, I think at the end of the day it comes down to the chemistry. Mm-hmm. Agreed. So if there's incredible chemistry between the two main characters, um, then that's all we need to make it hot. 

Lauren: Yeah. 

Tosca: So then it comes down to us making sure that we cast actors 

Lauren: Yes. 

Tosca: That can portray that kind of chemistry.

Mm-hmm. Um, and that's really important. And then, um, you know. Just make them do that. 

Lauren: Yeah. Completely agree. So, and speaking, I love that she asked about what we do to pick a book, but speaking of books, I'm curious to know what each of your either favorite romance novel of all time is, or a book you've really loved 

Tosca: Favorite romance novel of all time!?!

Lauren: Yep. 

Tosca: I'm gonna have to go with Pride and Prejudice because otherwise, you know, it's, there are too many other good new ones. Mm-hmm. You know. So I'm going with anything Jane Austen, but probably Pride and Prejudice. 

Lauren: That's valid. 

Ali: Mm-hmm. Oh man. It's hard. 

Tosca: Favorite romance novel of all time? 

Lauren: I know. Sorry. I know. Pride. Pride and p just on my list.

I also love Persuasion. Yes. 

Tosca: So good. Oh my gosh. 

Lauren: Jane Austen's a legend. Yeah, 

Ali: I do. I'm going to give credit to 50 Shades because I feel like that really love 50 Shades Me back, love 50 Shades into reading and got me into the genre. I love that. I'm gonna, I'm gonna do that. I do love 50 Shades. 

Tosca: Yeah. I will always go back to 50 Shades.

Ali: Same. Yeah, same. 

Tosca: Yeah. It's a comfort book. Yeah, it's comfort book. It's a comfort book. It's a, a full on reread. Like anytime. Yeah, yeah, yeah. 

Lauren: No, it's, I love E James. She's awesome. Yeah, she is. Um, my, wow, my favorite. Now I have to answer this too. Um, my favorite romance novel. Yes. I love anything Jane Austen, but a romance.

There's one romance, historical romance that I have read, I think eight to 10 times. Like I just keep rereading it 'cause I love it and it's actually. It, it's like a 12 book series that this author has written in it's book number seven or eight, but you can read it as a standalone. And I happened upon it as a standalone, but it's, uh, um, I think it's, it started with, it started with Scandal, um, by Julianne Long.

Oh, it's great. It's a single mom, um, who has a young son and she ends up being hired as. Uh, the housekeeper for this, uh, dethroned Prince of France, who's living in the English countryside. And, and he's also really hurt from getting injured. Uh, and she helps heal him. Like it's just, there's multiple layers.

Tosca: Maybe we make this as our first one. 

Lauren: I would love to. I love Julian Long. She's great. Um, and it's the whole, it's, she had, it's a 12 book series. Um, it's the Penny Royal Green Series. So good. If you haven't read it, please go check it out. Yeah. Because one of my, one of my favorite parts of romance in general is that it's always strong female characters.

Yeah. Um, but something that I love, especially about historical romance is that, especially for the time period mm-hmm. It's still strong female characters. Mm-hmm. And they're not just always debutantes or what have you. They, they, sometimes, I read a, a book recently that they're, they're spies and they're trying to.

Um, help take Scotland back from the English. Yeah. So it's, you know, like there's like, there's different time periods that people can place these books in, and I kind of love it. 

Tosca: So I think that's probably why we also love Jane Austen so much. That's what that yeah. Very strong female character. She, she started especially for the time.

Yes, 

Lauren: yes. No, she, she was an author who in the moment was writing. Mm-hmm. Strong female characters in a time when they weren't. Yeah. 

Tosca: Regency, you know, we really should make, uh, regency one and if it's, if it's, um, contained enough, we have, again, we have a great team in England to work with. That's true. Mm-hmm.

And so, you know, I would love to make something like that. 

Lauren: That sounds really great. Then I will, I will send, I will, yeah. I'll get working on that. 

Tosca: Alright. Yay. You heard it here first. 

Lauren: You heard it here first. We will do a Regency Romance, but there's also some great, um, historical romance that takes place in the US as well.

Great. Mm-hmm. Um, like Beverly Jenkins has written a lot, um, from, from all Over the US is where she bases her characters. So I'd be down to work on any of her books as well. Yeah. Yeah. Cool. That was my, that was my little fun question that I threw at the end, because I'm always curious and I don't know if we always talk about it, like what.

What books we've read that we really adored. Yeah. Um, from whatever time in our lives, um, like I stumbled into romance in a really silly way. I'm, I'm reminded of it 'cause I rewatched, uh, one of our Passion pod episodes lately where I talked about it. But, um, a friend of mine had suggested a book called To Catch a Pirate and it was a romance and I had no idea.

And I started reading it and suddenly I'm like, oh, there's. Like intimate scenes in this. And I'm 17 and it was my first time kind of reading it in more of like, I had read a few Stephen King books where things like that happens, but that was my first foray into full on romance. And I, by the end of the book, I was like, this is the sweetest thing I've ever, this is amazing.

What is this? And that's how I dove like straight into Regency Romance. That was all I read from the beginning. So I'm always curious how people get started on, 

Tosca: oh, I got started on harlequin novels novels. Ooh. Yeah. That's amazing. Also around the age of. 16, 17.

Lauren: I mean, 'cause you were in Canada by then, right? 

Tosca: Uh, I was in Canada and every time I would jump, I would have to go on the subway.

Nice. And they had all those little stores in the subway. Mm-hmm. And so I would just go in, grab a Harlequin novel, and then I would read them on the train. Oh, I love that. That's so classic. Yeah. 

Lauren: How about, and Ali, you said you got started with 50 Shades. 

Ali: I mean, I've always been a reader, but up until that point it mainly been suspense.

Thrillers. Yes. And then obviously I read Twilight and all of that. Oh yeah. I love Twilight. But yeah, 50 Shades was really. The where I got hooked and started reading constantly. 

Lauren: That's awesome. I love that. Yeah. See, everybody has their own way that they got into romance. 

Tosca: Yeah. Hi Molly. Let us know how you got into romance.

Yes. Do you have any ideas? Uh, or if you have anything to share with us, please, uh, let us know. 

Lauren: Yeah. I love hearing people's stories on how they got into romance. It's really fun. Yeah. Um, well thank you guys. I think that's all we had for today. Yeah. Yeah. Um, and I'll reiterate one more time. That call in number is seven.

Seven oh. 6 4 8 3 6 7 7. Um, we also have our info@passionflix.com email. I check that daily. So if you email any, just make the subject 'PassionPod' and we'll be sure to feature it on the show. Um, and thanks, this was a really fun episode. This is really fun. And don't forget to send in some fan art because we'll feature that on the next fan episode as well.

Perfect. Great. 

Tosca: Well thanks guys. Bye. Bye.