Forward Filmmaker

This episode of Forward Filmmaker features actor-turned-director David Lascher, whose background includes roles on iconic 20th century TV shows including Beverly Hills 90210, Hey Dude, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch. In more recent years, he has directed and co-written the award-winning film Sister, now streaming on Tubi and Amazon Prime. He joins us to discuss how he has made the acting-to-directing shift and how his experiences on the other side of the camera help inform his directorial style. -- Forward Filmmaker is brought to you by Filmhub, the distribution platform where thousands of independent filmmakers distribute and monetize their titles directly to streaming services – without giving up their rights or dealing with the traditional distribution pain points and middlemen. Go to filmhub.com to learn more.

This episode of Forward Filmmaker features actor, writer, producer, and director Michele Ehlen, who has held all of those titles on four award-winning feature films, including the first lesbian comedy trilogy: Butch Jamie, Heterosexual Jill, and S&M Sally. On this episode, she discusses creating work that strikes a comedic tone while illuminating issues including gender, sexuality, stereotypes, and identity.  -- Forward Filmmaker is brought to you by Filmhub, the distribution platform where thousands of independent filmmakers distribute and monetize their titles directly to streaming services – without giving up their rights or dealing with the traditional distribution pain points and middlemen. Go to filmhub.com to learn more.

This episode of Forward Filmmaker features Akira Boch. An LA-based, Emmy-winning filmmaker, Boch has been directing shorts, documentaries, and music videos since high school. His films reflect his strong ties to his Japanese heritage and passion for music. Among them are the PBS documentary Masters of Modern Design: The Art of the Japanese American Experience, as well as Atomic Café, which delves into the 70s LA Punk scene, and The Crumbles, an indie-rock comedy about an up and coming band. He discusses all of this, with an emphasis on how he infuses music and culture into his work. -- Forward Filmmaker is brought to you by Filmhub, the distribution platform where thousands of independent filmmakers distribute and monetize their titles directly to streaming services – without giving up their rights or dealing with the traditional distribution pain points and middlemen. Go to filmhub.com to learn more.

This episode of Forward Filmmaker features Jennifer Stein, an award-winning Arizona-based filmmaker whose work focuses on UFO sightings and alien abductions. On this episode, we'll hear how she gets her films distributed to alien enthusiasts worldwide. -- Forward Filmmaker is brought to you by Filmhub, the distribution platform where thousands of independent filmmakers distribute and monetize their titles directly to streaming services – without giving up their rights or dealing with the traditional distribution pain points and middlemen. Go to filmhub.com to learn more.

This episode of Forward Filmmaker features Ryan Balas, the award-winning New York based director of feature films, docs, and short-form web content like The Really Cool Show, an early YouTube web series with more than 20 million views. Trained as an actor, he focuses on creating deep, emotional resonance, whether it's in wild fictional stories or documentaries. His work often focuses on daily existence and complicated emotions, as evidenced in his trilogy of films: Ice Saints, Our House For The Weekend, and Ex Ex Ex, which star him and his former romantic partner, Dee Herlihy. Ryan also has an upcoming project with Entourage star Adrian Grenier about restoring a Brooklyn brownstone for Adrian's mother. On this episode he'll be talking about sex scenes, lighting, and more. -- Forward Filmmaker is brought to you by Filmhub, the distribution platform where thousands of independent filmmakers distribute and monetize their titles directly to streaming services – without giving up their rights or dealing with the traditional distribution pain points and middlemen. Go to filmhub.com to learn more.

This episode of Forward Filmmaker features Emiliano Ruschel, who has worked on everything from theater productions and soap operas to his own action movies. Currently based in Brazil, he has worked with Gerald Butler, Patrick Stewart, and Wagner Moura. He starred in and directed the 2016 action thriller Maverick: Manhunt Brazil, which has been streamed in more than 133 countries. We'll be talking about his filmmaking journey and knack for making action movies like Maverick for non-blockbuster budgets by filming from international locales. -- Forward Filmmaker is brought to you by Filmhub, the distribution platform where thousands of independent filmmakers distribute and monetize their titles directly to streaming services – without giving up their rights or dealing with the traditional distribution pain points and middlemen. Go to filmhub.com to learn more.

This episode's featured filmmaker is producer, writer, and director Sweta Rai. Sweta is CEO of her LA-based production company, Indo Holly Films. She has three master's degrees and has produced movies starring James Caan and Bo Derek. She directed the 2020 documentary A Pandemic: Away from the Motherland, which was shortlisted for the 2020 Oscar race. From quarantine, Sweta remotely filmed gripping stories of five frontline healthcare workers, all Indian immigrants. In chronicling these doctors' experiences, she delves into how their families in the U.S. and in India dealt with the impossible situation. We'll be talking with her about directing this documentary during and about the global pandemic. -- Forward Filmmaker is brought to you by Filmhub, the distribution platform where thousands of independent filmmakers distribute and monetize their titles directly to streaming services – without giving up their rights or dealing with the traditional distribution pain points and middlemen.

This episode features London-based filmmaker Torsten Hoffmann, whose award-winning documentaries delve into the complex world of cryptocurrency. A journalist and entrepreneur who has lived on four continents, Torsten discusses his passion for working where technology meets art and media, along with the production and distribution of Cryptopia: Bitcoin, Blockchains, and the Future of the Internet (2020) and Bitcoin: The End of Money as We Know It (2015). -- Forward Filmmaker is brought to you by Filmhub, the distribution platform where thousands of independent filmmakers distribute and monetize their titles directly to global streaming services – without giving up their rights or dealing with the traditional distribution pain points and middlemen.

This episode of Forward Filmmaker features Los-Angeles-based writer-director Courtney Daniels, whose titles – including the films What Other Couples Do and Bedroom Story and series This Fucking Town – take a unique, deeply personal look at love, relationships, and the hijinks and perils of life in Hollywood. On this episode, host Max Sanders speaks with Courtney about how she has learned to take criticism, shoot entire films from a single location, and reach millions of viewers, no thanks to old Hollywood gatekeepers. To hear more from Courtney, check out https://sugarinsixtyseconds.com/subscribe/ (https://sugarinsixtyseconds.com) and subscribe to her newsletter. -- Forward Filmmaker is brought to you by Filmhub, the distribution platform where thousands of independent filmmakers distribute and monetize their titles directly to streaming services – without giving up their rights or dealing with the traditional distribution pain points and middlemen.

This episode features writer/director Shaun Mathis. A former novelist who went to Atlanta on a whim after watching Entourage and deciding to carve out a career in the film industry, he's now the co-owner of Laconic Productions. He has directed full-length crime features, rom-com web series, documentaries, and music videos. His 2016 film The Plug has more than 4 million views. He has worked on 34 film projects…just in the last year. He is a YES-to-everything kind of guy. On this episode, host Max Sanders speaks with Shaun about how he defies the laws of time and fearlessly moves across genres. -- Forward Filmmaker is brought to you by Filmhub, the distribution platform where thousands of independent filmmakers distribute and monetize their titles directly to streaming services – without giving up their rights or dealing with the traditional distribution pain points and middlemen.