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INDEPENDENT MEDIA & MARKETING

for filmmakers by filmmakers

INDIE INSIGHTS BLOG

Here is where you'll find our show notes, insights from our friends in film, and a variety of thoughts, ideas, and perspectives we've developed during our time in the film industry.


Bonsai Creative, MAKE IT Podcast, Filmmaker, Film

Chris and Nick talk about the people that give the Indie Film Industry a bad name, how to spot them and stop them, and what it takes to be one of the good guys.










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About the MAKE IT Podcast The MAKE IT podcast is a platform for the voice of independent filmmaker. We offer a variety of educational, aspirational, and entertaining content that promotes the success of creatives across the filmmaking community and the film industry. Our Conversations with filmmaking professionals are dedicated to sharing the advice, knowledge, and insights of experienced filmmakers while exploring what it truly means to be an independent creative in the highly competitive world of filmmaking. Each filmmaker conversation is backed by thoughtful research that allows us to uncover the raw, authentic truths behind each filmmaker's journey. Through our Indie Talks, we share our thoughts and perspectives on navigating independent film from the perspective of Advisory and Executive Producers. We discuss topics that are relevant to filmmakers across a wide spectrum of filmmaking perspectives, and we do our best to uncover hidden truths and new developments in the film industry. Our goal is to help filmmakers avoid the pitfalls and obstacles on the business side of film so that their filmmaking creativity can thrive. Our Industry Insights provide bite-sized actionable advice that filmmaking professionals and creatives of all kinds can use to keep their heads up as they continue their filmmaking journeys. With advice sourced from the filmmaking community, we build upon the wisdom of our filmmaking guests to provide our audience with truly aspirational and inspirational content. The Mistakes in the Making series gives our filmmaking friends an opportunity to speak directly to our filmmaking audience to share a specific lesson they've learned through a mistake they've made. We are firm believers that mistakes can be the gateway to success when we open our hearts and minds to learning from them, sharing them, and using them to Be Better.


Bonsai Creative, MAKE IT Podcast, Chris Haley, Utopia Film Festival, Filmmaker, Film

In this episode, we have a conversation with the Documentarian, Author, Poet, and Nephew of ‘Roots’ author, Alex Haley, Chris Haley. We talk about John Brown’s place in history, how his life changed after Roots premiered on television, the trials of growing up related to Alex Haley, his documentary ‘Unmarked,’ his poem books ‘Obsessions’ and ‘Until the Right One Comes Along,’ and his annual film Festival, ‘Utopia.’




About Chris Haley


Actor, Archivist, Filmmaker, Writer, Chris Haley wears many hats. Director, The Study of the Legacy of Slavery at the Maryland State Archives, Director of the Utopia Film Festival, and Annapolis Pride, Annapolis Film Festival, Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation Board member, he is a recent recipient of the Anne Arundel County Arts Council 2021 Literary Arts Award recipient and co-director of the Capital Region Emmy nominated documentary, 'Unmarked', and author of two books of poetry currently available on Amazon, 'Until The Right One Comes Along', and, 'Obsessions'. Having also appeared on screen and stage on among other productions: The Wire and Ain't Misbehavin' at the Claridge Casino in Atlantic City, Chris is also a nephew of author Alex Haley and direct descendant of Kunta Kinte. If I Could (As read during the conversation) by Chris Haley If I could die For just a little while, And briefly take a break, If I could close my mind, My consciousness, Meditate on a lake. If I could dial down the volume Of voices Screaming daily woes, If I could gently close my eyes, No tears, no cries, No nightmares to hide, I think I would feel better. My passion would return. I’d breathe a life renewed, My candle not all burned. And dreams would reawaken me To the future I’d once yearned, of Grand occasions, Oscar nominations, Standing ovations, Devoted fans – A beloved man – Beautifully free of strife. If I could wake to that I’d beat this desperate rap, Dash my suicidal sway; I’d drink life’s sap I’d safely nap I would not end today Links:


 

About the MAKE IT Podcast The MAKE IT podcast is a platform for the voice of independent filmmaker. We offer a variety of educational, aspirational, and entertaining content that promotes the success of creatives across the filmmaking community and the film industry. Our Conversations with filmmaking professionals are dedicated to sharing the advice, knowledge, and insights of experienced filmmakers while exploring what it truly means to be an independent creative in the highly competitive world of filmmaking. Each filmmaker conversation is backed by thoughtful research that allows us to uncover the raw, authentic truths behind each filmmaker's journey. Through our Indie Talks, we share our thoughts and perspectives on navigating independent film from the perspective of Advisory and Executive Producers. We discuss topics that are relevant to filmmakers across a wide spectrum of filmmaking perspectives, and we do our best to uncover hidden truths and new developments in the film industry. Our goal is to help filmmakers avoid the pitfalls and obstacles on the business side of film so that their filmmaking creativity can thrive. Our Industry Insights provide bite-sized actionable advice that filmmaking professionals and creatives of all kinds can use to keep their heads up as they continue their filmmaking journeys. With advice sourced from the filmmaking community, we build upon the wisdom of our filmmaking guests to provide our audience with truly aspirational and inspirational content. The Mistakes in the Making series gives our filmmaking friends an opportunity to speak directly to our filmmaking audience to share a specific lesson they've learned through a mistake they've made. We are firm believers that mistakes can be the gateway to success when we open our hearts and minds to learning from them, sharing them, and using them to Be Better.


Bonsai Creative, MAKE IT, Adam Schartoff, Filmwax, Filmmaker, Film

We have a conversation with Filmwax Radio and Filmwax TV host Adam Schartoff. We talk about how to keep your cool when you're working with colleagues that are more notable than you, how his career shifted from working at Sony Music to podcasting and film, when and why to start a podcast and the best use of $5K in a film marketing budget. Enjoy!





About Filmwax Radio


Filmwax Radio is America’s favorite podcast featuring luminaries from the indie film community. Guests include actors, filmmakers, festival programmers, journalists and just about anyone else with a stake in the game. Listeners can expect engaging and nuanced conversations.


Hosted by Adam Schartoff, Filmwax Radio began in September of 2011 and has had thousands of guests over the years, many of whom make a point of returning over and over.

Filmwax’s guiding principle is to champion independent cinema.


About Adam Schartoff


Adam Schartoff worked in the music industry for many years before turning his attention to film in 2007. In 2011 he founded Filmwax, a media company devoted to the championing of independent films. Filmwax Radio began a short time later but has since grown into a familiar and popular part of the indie film landscape. Since its start there have been over 700 episodes with over 1200 guests. Adam currently lives in the Hudson Valley, works at WKZE 98.1, and is most proud of being Jacob’s Dad. Twitter: @adam_schartoff



Links:


 

About the MAKE IT Podcast The MAKE IT podcast is a platform for the voice of independent filmmaker. We offer a variety of educational, aspirational, and entertaining content that promotes the success of creatives across the filmmaking community and the film industry. Our Conversations with filmmaking professionals are dedicated to sharing the advice, knowledge, and insights of experienced filmmakers while exploring what it truly means to be an independent creative in the highly competitive world of filmmaking. Each filmmaker conversation is backed by thoughtful research that allows us to uncover the raw, authentic truths behind each filmmaker's journey. Through our Indie Talks, we share our thoughts and perspectives on navigating independent film from the perspective of Advisory and Executive Producers. We discuss topics that are relevant to filmmakers across a wide spectrum of filmmaking perspectives, and we do our best to uncover hidden truths and new developments in the film industry. Our goal is to help filmmakers avoid the pitfalls and obstacles on the business side of film so that their filmmaking creativity can thrive. Our Industry Insights provide bite-sized actionable advice that filmmaking professionals and creatives of all kinds can use to keep their heads up as they continue their filmmaking journeys. With advice sourced from the filmmaking community, we build upon the wisdom of our filmmaking guests to provide our audience with truly aspirational and inspirational content. The Mistakes in the Making series gives our filmmaking friends an opportunity to speak directly to our filmmaking audience to share a specific lesson they've learned through a mistake they've made. We are firm believers that mistakes can be the gateway to success when we open our hearts and minds to learning from them, sharing them, and using them to Be Better.

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