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Indiewood
A Podcast for Indie Filmmakers
In the world of social media, and fast-paced journalism, knowledge is abound. But with all the noise, finding the right information is near impossible. Especially if you’re a creative working in independent film.
Produced by Cinematography For Actors, the Indiewood podcast aims to fix that. This is a podcast about indie filmmakers and the many hats we wear in order to solve problems before, during, and after production.
Every month, award-winning Writer/Director Yaroslav Altunin is joined by a different guest co-host to swap hats, learn about the different aspects of the film industry, and how to implement all you learn into your work.
"We learn from indie filmmakers so we can become better filmmakers. Because we all want to be Hollywood, but first we have to be Indiewood."
Episodes
49 episodes
A Creative Executive’s Perspective On Notes That Actually Help Writers
Notes can make your script sing or send it off key. We sit down with producer and creative development exec Andrew Lang (Dark Horse, Paramount, Montecito) to unpack how feedback actually works inside the industry. What helps, what harms, an...
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Season 13
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Episode 2
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26:14
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Breaking In, In 2025: A Conversation with Creative Executive Andrew Lang
Our candid, fast-moving conversation with producer and Creative executive Andrew Lang reveals what it means to break into the film industry in 2025. As a veteran of indie films and big budget productions, Andrew shares with us his experienc...
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Season 13
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Episode 1
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32:38
The Starving Artist Fallacy: Redefining Success in Independent Film
The conventional wisdom that creative careers and steady jobs are mutually exclusive gets thoroughly debunked in this illuminating conversation with Julia Steyer, a multi-hyphenate talent making waves in independent film. As an actor, producer,...
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Season 12
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Episode 4
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35:24
The Struggles of Screenwriting: Overcoming Blocks, Errors, and Obstacles
What happens when the words on the page become both prison and playground? Julia Stier, an actor, writer, and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree in Hollywood and Entertainment, takes us deep into the creative tension between acting and writing, reveali...
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Season 12
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Episode 2
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33:02
From Theater Kid to Forbes 30 Under 30: Julia Steyer's Creative Journey
What does it really take to forge a successful path in independent filmmaking when there's no ladder to climb? In this captivating conversation with Julia Steyer – actor, producer, screenwriter, playwright, and recent Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree...
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Season 12
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Episode 1
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34:58
Film School Pros and Cons: An Inside Look From Student and Professor
Film School Pros and Cons: An Inside Look From Student and ProfessorIs film school worth thousands of dollars and two years of your life? Screenwriter, director, and UCLA professor George Huang doesn't have a simple answer –...
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Season 11
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Episode 4
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38:17
Unconventional Writing Techniques: A Filmmaker's Guide to Storytelling
In this episode of the Indiewood podcast, host Yaroslav Altunin welcomes back writer/director George Huang for a conversation about unconventional creative storytelling techniques. From how physical objects can transform boring scenes into ...
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Season 11
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Episode 3
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30:50
The Evolution of Independent Filmmaking: A Behind-the-Scenes Look
Explore the fascinating evolution of independent filmmaking with veteran writer/director George Huang as he shares insider stories from his 30+ year career. From shooting his first film, Swimming With Sharks, to his most recent work, Weeken...
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Season 11
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Episode 2
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34:26
Breaking Through: George Huang’s Rise from Assistant to Director
Join us for an intimate conversation with writer, directer, and producer (and UCLA Professor) George Huang as he shares his remarkable journey from being a studio assistant to directing his own films and writing for some of the biggest prod...
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Season 11
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Episode 1
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34:08
Acting, Writing, Directing: Unique Perspective From Actor Wayne T. Carr
Join us for our final episode with with actor, writer, and teacher Wayne T. Carr as he shares valuable lessons from his creative journey. Whether you're an aspiring performer or filmmaker, this episode offers practical advice on maintaining mot...
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Season 10
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Episode 4
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30:16
Being a Multi-hyphenate Filmmaker: How to Expand Your Creative Toolkit
What happens when an established actor adds "writer" to their creative arsenal? Wayne T. Carr, whom you might recognize from his powerful performances on stage and screen, joins us to explore the exhilarating and sometimes intimidating jour...
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29:50
All the World's a Stage: Wayne T. Carr on the Power of Artistic Skills Everywhere
In the continuation of our conversation with actor Wayne T. Carr, we explore what happens when artistic skills are applied beyond traditional creative spaces. Wayne shares how his theater training is helping professionals in the corporate w...
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Season 10
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Episode 2
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28:10
From Football and Theater To Big Screen Hero: Unexpected Creative Paths with Wayne T. Carr
On this episode of the Indiewood Podcast, we unpack the creative journey of actor Wayne T. Carr. From the college football field to Zack Snyder's driveway, we explore unexpected creative paths and find fulfillment in the unpredictable journ...
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Season 10
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Episode 1
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30:43
Managing Creative and Career Momentum: What Happens When the Spotlight Dims?
Every creative career has its ebb and flow, but what happens when your momentum is repeatedly interrupted by forces beyond your control? Actor, producer, and writer Sarah Randall Hunt, currently appearing in the hit series 1923, joins the I...
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Season 9
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Episode 4
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25:41
Mastering Notes and Direction: How Successful Actors and Directors Communicate
In our series with TV actor, producer, and writer Sarah Randall Hunt (1923), we explore her wealth of experience on the delicate art of communication between directors and actors.How can directors can give more effective not...
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Season 9
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Episode 3
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31:27
Nurturing Filmmaking Partnerships: How Actor Sarah Randall Hunt Collaborates With Creatives
Creative partnerships can make or break a project, but what happens when your creative partner is also your partner in life? Join us for our second episode with actor and producer Sarah Randall Hunt (1923, Chicago Fire) as we unpack the del...
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Season 9
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Episode 2
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29:53
From Theater to Hit TV Series: How Actor Sarah Randall Hunt Embraced More Than One Creative Path
What does it truly mean to be a creative multi-hyphenate in today's entertainment landscape? Actor, producer, and writer Sarah Randall Hunt joins us to share her decade-plus journey from opera student to actor and producer, to now starring ...
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Season 9
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Episode 1
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26:45
Career Momentum with JJ Hawkins: How to Find It, Keep it, Lost It, and Restart it
In our final episode with actor, producer, and screenwriter JJ Hawkins, we explore how momentum can affect your creative journey and how to pick yourself back up again once you lose it. This episode explores the balance between passion and ...
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Season 8
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Episode 4
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29:43
Writing Secrets From Actor-Turned-Writer JJ Hawkins
On this episode of the Indiewood Podcast, we return with JJ Hawkins, a multifaceted actor, producer, and writer, where we talk about all things screenwriting. From writing short films to feature-length movies, we unpack the intricacies of b...
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Season 8
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Episode 3
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23:43
When To Make Your Own Films: JJ Hawkins Talks Creative Empowerment
What happens when an actor decides to take control of their own narrative? Join us as we sit down with the actor, producer, and writer JJ Hawkins.On this episode we discuss facing the challenges of limited trans roles in Hol...
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Season 8
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Episode 2
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30:21
Creative Career Transitions and Overcoming Limitations: JJ Hawkins on True Representation
Join us as we chat with writer, producer, and TV actor JJ Hawkins, as we learn how to navigate a career in television, overcome career obstacles, and share our adventures creating the web series "Stupid Cupid" in the bustling streets of New...
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Season 8
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Episode 1
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28:13
Overcoming Career Challenges: How Keep Writing When Things Get Tough
For our final episode with novelist and screenwriter Julia Batavia, we shed light on the gritty realities of a screenwriter in the modern world.Together, we unpack the myth that simply having an agent or manager paves the way to suc...
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Season 7
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Episode 4
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29:43
Craft of Screenwriting: Creating Depth in Dialogue and Layers in Story
For our first screenwriting craft episode, we sit down with novelist and screenwriter Julia Batavia to talk about the often overlooked hurdles to telling a good story.We unlock the secrets of compelling character development and the...
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Season 7
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Episode 3
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30:42
Going Beyond Screenwriting: Balancing Ambition and Self-care
On our second episode with the versatile writer Julia Batavia, we go beyond writing to how directing, novels, and narrative podcasts can help you evolve your craft.Julia candidly shares her experiences working on her short film "Nep...
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Season 7
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Episode 2
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30:14
From NYU to Working Screenwriter: How to Be The Engine of Your Own Career
Julia Batavia, a screenwriter, novelist, and self-proclaimed one-time director invites us into her creative universe where she shares her experience from her first ever draft to getting repped and hired to write on her first assignment....
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Season 7
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Episode 1
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26:54