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Hollywood Confessional

21 Episodes

19 minutes | May 18, 2023
Practice Safe Sets
Hello Hollywood Faithful! This episode features a Rigger telling some tales from the road. Everything from rigging across mountain tops to almost killing someone with a tree. Join us in the confessional booth! Connect with us: Instagram Facebook Twitter Website Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal. Sound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.Keywords: How to Break into Hollywood, Entertainment Industry Jobs, Entertainment Industry Podcast, Screenwriting Podcast, Filmmaking Podcast
21 minutes | May 4, 2023
Film Festival Fiasco
Hello Hollywood Faithful! Thanks for tuning into another episode of the Hollywood Confessional. Today, our confessor talks about their experience with one of the biggest screenwriting competitions out there. Spoiler alert: things didn't go as planned. We also have a special intro, talking about the strike and what we as writers are fighting for. Thanks for tuning in!  Connect with us: Instagram Facebook Twitter Website Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal. Sound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.Keywords: How to Break into Hollywood, Entertainment Industry Jobs, Entertainment Industry Podcast, Screenwriting Podcast, Filmmaking Podcast
28 minutes | Apr 20, 2023
Coming Clean
TRIGGER WARNING: This week's story involves drug use. If this could be distressing to you, please skip this episode and join us next week. “I’m at a party. Somebody goes into their pocket and pulls out five or six pills. And I take all of them, and I eat them. About 15 minutes later, I’m not feeling good. I think I’m about to throw up. I’m by the sink. I look in the cupboard, and there’s a filter. So I grab a coffee filter. I lean over the sink, and I throw up into the coffee filter. And then I squeeze it, open the filter. And there are the pills. And I take the pills and take a beer, and I swallow them again. That’s the kind of addict I was.”In today’s episode, we hear from an actor whose brilliant career fell apart due to their addictions to drugs and alcohol. From booking several roles a month at 19 to becoming a final contender for a series lead, our confessor’s meteoric rise coincided with an increasingly habit of using… which ultimately brought it all crashing down.“I thought talent was everything. I thought, I’m not the first guy to have issues with drugs or alcohol. Let’s figure it out. I’m worth it. But within a few years, I had nothing. I blew all the money. I didn’t have anything left.”Redemption didn’t come easily for our confessor. They continued to book roles because of their talent, but marijuana and cocaine eventually led to more ravaging addictions… and trouble with the law. They only survived, as our confessor puts it, because angels were looking out for them… just long enough to bring our confessor to the point where they were ready to get the help they needed.In this episode, we hear how addiction can completely take over the life of an artist, and at least one of the reasons why. We also hear a profoundly moving tale of redemption, as our confessor finally figures out what it takes to come clean."Coming Clean" is very important to us, and we hope this story will inspire our fellow entertainment industry professionals who are also struggling with addiction. Let us know what you think on Twitter or Instagram @fessuphollywood. And please leave us a review and rating here! We’ll be back in two weeks with another episode of Hollywood Confessional.Other episodes we think you'll enjoy:“The Comeback” - A fearless aspiring filmmaker scores a job directing a studio feature right out of college. But when it turns out not to be the big break they expect, they must find a way to stay in the game through 25 years of diminishing returns.“Resting Smile Face” & “The Method” - A PA learns that their friendly face might encourage a-holes to ask for favors. An aspiring actor deals with a shady coach who was really teaching people to bully. Connect with us: Instagram Facebook Twitter Website Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal. Sound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.Keywords: How to Break into Hollywood, Entertainment Industry Jobs, Entertainment Industry Podcast, Screenwriting Podcast, Filmmaking Podcast
27 minutes | Apr 6, 2023
The Dangers of Do It Yourselfing
Ever thought about making your own movie? Maybe considered the advice “If you want to be a filmmaker, just shoot a film!” It sounds simple. But take it from our confessor: Do-it-yourselfing can be a dangerous (and expensive) business!In this week’s confession, we hear from a gung-ho aspiring director who gets tired ofwaiting for something to happen in their career and decides to take action to achieve theirdream. Unlike some Hollywood hucksters, however, our confessor isn’t comfortable claiming to be something they’re not. So they do it the hard way…“My level of work ethic, first, and dignity, second, tells me I cannot wear a title if Ihave not earned it. But I started to realize the things I wanted to do cost money.Like, a LOT of money.”After years of frustration, they join a collective of artists who claim they’re all going tovolunteer time to work on each other’s short films… only to discover that no one in the group wants to produce. So our confessor realizes that if they want to direct, they’re going to have to do the whole thing on their own.“If I don’t move the needle, nothing will move. Because who’s going to do it? Who’sgoing to do anything for me if I don’t do it for myself?”Determination and self-reliance lead our confessor down a path riddled with crazysetbacks and miraculous breakthroughs. Ultimately the film gets made… but will it make their career?In this episode, we get into the following:        1. How to make your own short film2. How to work with actors (when they don’t want to work with you)3. How to deal with setbacks in your creative careerAs content creators ourselves, this story really resonates with us. We’d love to hear what you think! Shoot us a note about when you tried to make your own film @fessuphollywood, or leave us a review here. Other episodes we think you'll enjoy:“The Comeback” - A fearless aspiring filmmaker scores a job directing a studio feature right out of college. But when it turns out not to be the big break they expect, they must find a way to stay in the game through 25 years of diminishing returns. "Clipboard Girl" - A tough aspiring filmmaker faces a disaster her first day on set but finds a way to turn it into a win for her career. “Resting Smile Face” & “The Method” - A PA learns that their friendly face might encourage a-holes to ask for favors. An aspiring actor deals with a shady coach who was really teaching people to bully. Connect with us: Instagram Facebook Twitter Website Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal. Sound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.Keywords: How to Break into Hollywood, Entertainment Industry Jobs, Entertainment Industry Podcast, Screenwriting Podcast, Filmmaking Podcast
26 minutes | Mar 23, 2023
The Sellout
Money. Fame. That nagging feeling that you might have given up everything you believed in to get the one thing you wanted.  In this week’s confession, we hear from a feature film writer who experienced all this and more. Well, maybe not the fame part. And… not a ton of money, now that we think about it. But they definitely sold out for a glimpse of Hollywood glory. “The whole ‘artist’ thing – whatever I once felt like I needed to say – that was completely gone. I was ready to make a deal. A thousand bucks for the option, and I was in.”  The deal seemed like a great idea at first. They survived development hell, got to call themself a professional screenwriter. But once the film finally got the green light, they learned selling out has its own price. “So many things were happening. They were picking locations, hiring a DP, holding auditions – and they cast [BLEEP BLEEP] as the lead! But I barely got to see any of this. I just heard it was happening through the grapevine. In essence, it was like my part was finished.” In this episode, we discuss: 1.    How to manage FOMO when the movie you spent years working on is being made without you 2.    Why screenplay options should really be more than a thousand bucks 3.    How to make the most of your three days on set when the director is crying and the star has locked himself in his trailer We wrap up this episode with a shoutout to some industry professionals who saved our butts more than once while we were working on location in Toronto – the transportation crew! These folks don’t often get a lot of shine, but they should! They start work before anyone else, and their days don’t end until everyone gets home safely. Thanks to all the transpo pros out there for making Hollywood a happier place!  If you know someone who deserves a shoutout, or if you have a story you’re dying to get off your chest, let us know on Twitter or IG @fessuphollywood.  And please leave us a review and rating here! We’ll be back in two weeks with another episode of Hollywood Confessional. Other episodes we think you'll enjoy: “The Comeback” - A fearless aspiring filmmaker scores a job directing a studio feature right out of college. But when it turns out not to be the big break they expect, they must find a way to stay in the game through 25 years of diminishing returns. “The Porn Car” - A veteran industry pro tells a zany tale from behind the scenes of a well-known TV show, navigating cocaine-fueled disasters and encounters with nude adult film stars while trying to keep the production running. Connect with us: Instagram Facebook Twitter Website Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal. Sound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.Keywords: How to Break into Hollywood, Entertainment Industry Jobs, Entertainment Industry Podcast, Screenwriting Podcast, Filmmaking Podcast
24 minutes | Mar 10, 2023
Audition Crasher
Hustlers will stop at nothing to make it in Hollywood. So what happens when something stops them?  In this week’s confession, a determined up-and-coming actor decides to break into the business by any means necessary. Stealing passwords, going through garbage – they’ll do anything to achieve their goal. And at first, the hustle pays off! “I would go from casting office to casting office with a bag of different clothes – like I had a ‘bad girl’ outfit and a ‘nerdy secretary’ – and see who was in the waiting room and if I could see the sides on the walls. And that is how I booked a national commercial.” But when you’re pursuing a career in the entertainment industry, one break rarely gets you all the way in. For this confessor, that first national commercial was just one step down a seemingly endless road. And as their career progressed, crashing auditions got more complicated, forcing them to question their choices. “Around age 30, I started to get fed up. With acting, and with the grind. All of it… and then one day, my apartment got burglarized.” In this episode, we get into the following:  1.    How to break in as an actor by any means necessary (don’t try this at home!) 2.    How to create opportunities for yourself, even without support 3.    How to find your true passion Finally, we top off the episode with a shoutout to a Hollywood pioneer in the animation industry who’s helping up-and-coming animators achieve their dreams – Rose Duignon. Huge thanks to Rose for making Hollywood a happier place! If you know someone who deserves a shoutout, let us know on Twitter or IG @fessuphollywood. And please leave us a review and rating here! We’ll be back in two weeks with another episode of Hollywood Confessional. Other episodes we think you'll enjoy: "Clipboard Girl" - A tough aspiring filmmaker faces a disaster her first day on set but finds a way to turn it into a win for her career. “Resting Smile Face” & “The Method” - A PA learns that their friendly face might encourage a-holes to ask for favors. An aspiring actor deals with a shady coach who was really teaching people to bully. Connect with us: Instagram Facebook Twitter Website Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal. Sound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.Keywords: How to Break into Hollywood, Entertainment Industry Jobs, Entertainment Industry Podcast, Screenwriting Podcast, Filmmaking Podcast
23 minutes | Feb 23, 2023
The Comeback
What if you got your first big break in Hollywood at age 24… and then didn’t get another for 25 years?   In this incredible first confession of our second season, we hear from a fearless aspiring filmmaker who scored a job directing a studio feature film when they were barely out of college. But as thrilling as it sounds, the experience wasn’t what they expected…   "One day about halfway through, I woke up in my hotel room after 12 hours of sleep, and I couldn’t move. I laid in the bed. Looked at the ceiling, and I was like, it’s only week three. I have four more weeks. I’m not going to make it.”   After enduring the intense highs and lows of being a first-time director on a multi-million-dollar film, our confessor gets a major win… but somehow it still feels like a loss. The decades-long struggle that follows highlights how hard it can be to maintain a career, even after your first big break, but it also leads the confessor to some powerful revelations.   “It dawned on me that if one mode is no longer yielding the results you want, you have two choices. You can blame everybody else. Or you can change your approach.”  In this episode, we get into the following:           1. The difficulties of maintaining a career in the entertainment industry – even after you break in   2. The truth behind the saying, “It’s a marathon, not a sprint” 3. What it takes to keep pursuing your goals in your darkest moments Finally, we top off the episode with a shoutout and a call to action – to you, our listeners! Our goal is to make #fessuphollywood a movement. A community of creative people who all want to make Hollywood a happier place. Let’s build that together! Connect with us on socials @fessuphollywood. Share this episode with a friend. Leave us a review and rating here. And join us in two weeks for another episode of the Hollywood Confessional!  Other episodes we think you'll enjoy:  "Clipboard Girl" - A tough aspiring filmmaker faces a disaster her first day on set but finds a way to turn it into a win for her career.   “The Sound of Silence” - An audio technician discovers working for one of the most famous people on earth is far more stressful than it sounds.   “Stranded” & “The List” - A PA desperate to find work gets abandoned by a producer in the wilderness, while an office worker in the urban jungle realizes their boss is keeping a list of every mistake they make. Connect with us: Instagram Facebook Twitter Website Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal. Sound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.Keywords: How to Break into Hollywood, Entertainment Industry Jobs, Entertainment Industry Podcast, Screenwriting Podcast, Filmmaking Podcast
2 minutes | Feb 20, 2023
Season 2 Trailer! New Episodes Start Feb 23
Hollywood Faithful! We are back and better than ever. Please join us in Season 2 for higher highs, lower lows, and crazier stories of everything that happens in Hollywood. We'll hear from writers, directors, crew members, people who have found fame, and those still chasing it.It's going to be a wild ride!Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal. IG/Twitter: @fessuphollywoodSound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.Keywords: Hollywood, Writing, Acting, Directing, Narrative, Interview, Screenwriting, Writer Life Connect with us: Instagram Facebook Twitter Website Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal.Sound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.Keywords: How to Break into Hollywood, Entertainment Industry Jobs, Entertainment Industry Podcast, Screenwriting Podcast, Filmmaking Podcast Connect with us: Instagram Facebook Twitter Website Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal. Sound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.Keywords: How to Break into Hollywood, Entertainment Industry Jobs, Entertainment Industry Podcast, Screenwriting Podcast, Filmmaking Podcast
22 minutes | Nov 24, 2022
Clipboard Girl
You know who they are. Young. Smart. Hungry. Always running around trying to get people to fill out paperwork. Some of these folks find their way from entry-level positions into satisfying careers in the entertainment industry. Others – like this week’s confessor – run like hell.  “At first, I was fine with being in a coordinating role. I thought that was going to be my life. But now I wanted to be creative. And I realized if I kept going like I was, that was never going to happen.”In this week’s confession, we hear from a former production office assistant whose job behind a desk inspired her to get on set and become a filmmaker herself. But the road from – in her words – “clipboard girl” to director was a long one, with more than a few twists and turns along the way.“The second day, we were shooting in this saloon. I’m running around, doing whatever I can for people and loving every minute of it. And about halfway through the day, I step off a curb, and I hear a SNAP. And I go down.”A debilitating injury might have stopped most people… but not our confessor. She stuck it out through her first on-set experience, working almost a month on crutches for deferred pay. And believe it or not… it turned out to be worth it.In this episode, you’ll hear:1.    What it’s like starting out in the industry as a production office assistant2.    How knowing what you want and having faith in yourself can help keep you going in the toughest situations3.    An absolutely incredible story of a woman who overcame adversity in Hollywood and truly achieved her dreamIf that’s not enough inspiration for you, we finish off our Season 1 Finale with a shoutout to some of the most important people in Hollywood, who are out there making it a happier place every single day… support staffers! We see you, we love you – hell, we ARE you. Thanks so much for everything you do – and to our audience for making this a great first season!We’ll be on hiatus during the holidays, but if you’ve got a story to share or just want to keep in touch, hit us up on Twitter or IG @fessuphollywood.And please leave us a review and rating here! We’ll be back in 2023 with more incredible stories, anonymously told, on the Hollywood Confessional.Other episodes we think you'll enjoy:“The Comeback” - A fearless aspiring filmmaker scores a job directing a studio feature right out of college. But when it turns out not to be the big break they expect, they must find a way to stay in the game through 25 years of diminishing returns.“The Porn Car” - A veteran industry pro tells a zany tale from behind the scenes of a well-known TV show, navigating cocaine-fueled disasters and encounters with nude adult film stars while trying to keep the production running. Connect with us: Instagram Facebook Twitter Website Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal. Sound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.Keywords: How to Break into Hollywood, Entertainment Industry Jobs, Entertainment Industry Podcast, Screenwriting Podcast, Filmmaking Podcast
19 minutes | Nov 10, 2022
The Sound of Silence
Hello faithful, my old friends. We've come to confess with you again! This week we've got one big confession. Our confessor worked with one of the most famous people on earth, and it was a disaster. The lesson here: if your boss sets you up for failure, sometimes, all you can do is learn from the experience.Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal. IG/Twitter: @fessuphollywoodSound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.Keywords: Hollywood, Writing, Acting, Directing, Narrative, Interview, Screenwriting, Writer Life Connect with us: Instagram Facebook Twitter Website Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal. Sound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.Keywords: How to Break into Hollywood, Entertainment Industry Jobs, Entertainment Industry Podcast, Screenwriting Podcast, Filmmaking Podcast
29 minutes | Oct 27, 2022
Pitch This, A*****e & Halloween Party
Welcome back to the confessional booth!This week we've got two spooky confessions. The first confession is about a nightmare pitch that turns into a dream as our confessor watches his partner take down an old school creep. The second confession is about a Halloween party that ends up exposing the racist behavior of a powerful executive.Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal. IG/Twitter: @fessuphollywoodSound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.Keywords: Hollywood, Writing, Acting, Directing, Narrative, Interview, Screenwriting, Writer Life Connect with us: Instagram Facebook Twitter Website Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal. Sound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.Keywords: How to Break into Hollywood, Entertainment Industry Jobs, Entertainment Industry Podcast, Screenwriting Podcast, Filmmaking Podcast
23 minutes | Oct 13, 2022
Bad Romance
Welcome back to the confessional booth!This week we've got one big confession. Our confessor worked on a mega-hit TV show, and had to navigate a tricky situation involving two of their bosses and what went on behind closed doors.Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal. IG/Twitter: @fessuphollywoodSound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.Keywords: Hollywood, Writing, Acting, Directing, Narrative, Interview, Screenwriting, Writer Life Connect with us: Instagram Facebook Twitter Website Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal. Sound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.Keywords: How to Break into Hollywood, Entertainment Industry Jobs, Entertainment Industry Podcast, Screenwriting Podcast, Filmmaking Podcast
28 minutes | Sep 29, 2022
Cast Recast & The Machine
Welcome back to the confessional booth!This week we've got two fascinating confessions for you! First up,  an actor learns the truth in the saying "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." After that, our second confessor peels back the curtain on film and television composing, revealing the machine behind the man.Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal. IG/Twitter: @fessuphollywoodSound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.Keywords: Hollywood, Writing, Acting, Directing, Narrative, Interview, Screenwriting, Writer Life Connect with us: Instagram Facebook Twitter Website Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal. Sound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.Keywords: How to Break into Hollywood, Entertainment Industry Jobs, Entertainment Industry Podcast, Screenwriting Podcast, Filmmaking Podcast
35 minutes | Sep 15, 2022
Resting Smile Face & The Method
Welcome back to the confessional booth!This week we've got two fascinating confessions for you! First up,  a PA learns that their friendly face might encourage assholes to ask for favors, and how to deal with that. After that, our next confessor deals with a horrible acting teacher who was really only teaching people how to bully.Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal. IG/Twitter: @fessuphollywoodSound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.Keywords: Hollywood, Writing, Acting, Directing, Narrative, Interview, Screenwriting, Writer Life Connect with us: Instagram Facebook Twitter Website Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal. Sound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.Keywords: How to Break into Hollywood, Entertainment Industry Jobs, Entertainment Industry Podcast, Screenwriting Podcast, Filmmaking Podcast
27 minutes | Sep 1, 2022
Stranded & The List
Welcome back to the confessional booth!This week we've got two courageous confessions for you! First up,  a PA, desperate to find work, gets abandoned by a producer in the wilderness. After that, our next confessor deals with a CEO who would rather save money than treat his employees well.Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal. IG/Twitter: @fessuphollywoodSound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.Keywords: Hollywood, Writing, Acting, Directing, Narrative, Interview, Screenwriting, Writer Life Connect with us: Instagram Facebook Twitter Website Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal. Sound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.Keywords: How to Break into Hollywood, Entertainment Industry Jobs, Entertainment Industry Podcast, Screenwriting Podcast, Filmmaking Podcast
23 minutes | Aug 18, 2022
Toenail Guy
Welcome back to the confessional booth!It's a single confession kind of week, but this confession comes with some shocking realizations! Our confessor talks to us about a job that they took at a time when they were willing to do anything to break in, and the creepy boss who operated out of two tiny rooms in a giant house.Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal. IG/Twitter: @fessuphollywoodSound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.Keywords: Hollywood, Writing, Acting, Directing, Narrative, Interview, Screenwriting, Writer Life Connect with us: Instagram Facebook Twitter Website Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal. Sound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.Keywords: How to Break into Hollywood, Entertainment Industry Jobs, Entertainment Industry Podcast, Screenwriting Podcast, Filmmaking Podcast
24 minutes | Aug 4, 2022
The Oligarch's Apprentice & Horse Stand-In
In a world where Hollywood isn't just a neighborhood, but a universal concept, our Confessors confront the irony of their journey, as Confessor 1 is forced to assist an abusive and manipulative Eastern European oligarch's right-hand man, and Confessor 2 gets a job as a stand-in for a salad-throwing wannabe Hollywood big shot in Vancouver. The Oligarch's Apprentice "The #MeToo movement changed my life because it made me see that even if at some point [sexual harassment] was part of the job, it doesn't have to be that way in the future. And if we stand together and support each other, it won't be. There's strength in numbers. The power is on our side now."Our first Confessor this week was hired as a producer's assistant at a large studio in Eastern Europe, but quickly realized that the VP was taking advantage of young women in the office. When she stood up to him, he reacted in a way she never expected... by throwing a full-on temper tantrum.Confessor #2 also started off as an assistant to an abusive producer -- but her experience took place in Canada. What seemed like an incredible opportunity to break into TV writing turned into a nightmare when she got fired... only to be re-hired as a stand-in on the same producer's movies.Horse Stand-In"There is no better revenge than doing the thing you initially set out to do."In this episode, we get into: How bad leadership creates a toxic environment Loyalty tests in Hollywood What to do when you have to stand in for a horse (WTF?!) We then leave these tales of toxicity behind for a shoutout from one of our amazing voice actors to someone she thinks is making Hollywood a happier place... acting coach Lauren Patrice Nadler, who goes above and beyond to create a positive environment for training actors. Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here! Resources:"SAG-AFTRA Just Made It Easier to Report Sexual Harassment in Hollywood" - By Laura Bradley, for The Daily Beast, Apr. 29, 2021Other episodes we think you'll enjoy:"Resting Smile Face" & "The Method"  "Pitch This A*Hole" & "Halloween Party" "Clipboard Girl" Connect with us: Instagram Facebook Twitter Website Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal. Sound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.Keywords: How to Break into Hollywood, Entertainment Industry Jobs, Entertainment Industry Podcast, Screenwriting Podcast, Filmmaking Podcast
22 minutes | Jul 21, 2022
The Porn Car
Welcome back to the confessional booth!This week we have just one confession, but it's a wild one! It comes to us from someone who has been around the block and has had time to process everything they've been through. Littered throughout this hilarious story are red flags all of us have seen and blown right past in the name of working in this industry. Our shoutout comes to us from Amy Baklini, who gives a shout out to indie film producer Matt Miller.This episode is brought to you by THE RESTORER, a supernatural YA podcast in the Ninth Way Media family, available anywhere you get your podcasts!The Restorer on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-restorer/id1621618762Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal. IG/Twitter: @fessuphollywoodSound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.Keywords: Hollywood, Writing, Acting, Directing, Narrative, Interview, Screenwriting, Writer Life Connect with us: Instagram Facebook Twitter Website Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal. Sound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.Keywords: How to Break into Hollywood, Entertainment Industry Jobs, Entertainment Industry Podcast, Screenwriting Podcast, Filmmaking Podcast
29 minutes | Jul 7, 2022
Find Me B***h & The Bleep Bleep Story
Sometimes when you're in a toxic situation, you don't realize it until it's too late. Other times, you take that situation and work the shit out of it.On this week's episode of the Hollywood Confessional, we have two confessions from entertainment industry newcomers who found themselves in abusive situations. And they have some serious words for their former bosses.Find Me, Bitch!"When you're in a vulnerable spot, you have to take a job and keep it by any means necessary."Confessor 1 is a 22-year-old who rushed out of college and was struggling to find a job when their mom passed away. They  eventually found a production assistant job for a commercial production company. When it turned degrading, they found innovative ways to stay employed and get their revenge. The Bleep Bleep Story"When they announced the master class, it was like, Oh, this is the thing. [BLEEP BLEEP] is teaching it himself. This is going to be amazing. And I sort of naively expected that we were going to really workshop the scripts. I thought he was there to sort of, like, teach us his process. But I should have known better because the theme of the class… was sex scenes."Confessor 2 is a 20-year-old aspiring screenwriter fresh out of suburbia. They were invited to take a free writing class at the studio of a famous multi-hyphenate. Despite  red flags, they went along with it and soon realized they'd been sucked into a wild and toxic scam.In this episode, we get into the following: What is the reality of the entertainment industry like for those starting out? How do you identify red flags when you're pursuing a Hollywood opportunity? Why are people trying to break into the entertainment industry sometimes willing to overlook toxic behavior by people in charge? We top it off with a shoutout to someone who is putting his career on the line to make Hollywood a happier place... the founder of Video Mantis, Thomas Popp.  Love this episode? Rate and review it here!  Other episodes we think you'll like: "The Can Lady" & "This Is a Man's World" "The Porn Car" "Stranded" & "The List" Connect with us: Instagram Facebook Twitter Website Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal. Sound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.Keywords: How to Break into Hollywood, Entertainment Industry Jobs, Entertainment Industry Podcast, Screenwriting Podcast, Filmmaking Podcast
31 minutes | Jun 23, 2022
The Can Lady & This is a Man's World
Welcome to our first episode of the Hollywood Confessional!In this week's episode, we hear confessions from two up-and-comers as they battle condescension, abuse, toxic work environments, and even a car crash on their journeys to gain respect and a foothold in the entertainment industry.Can Lady"I wanted to quit that job every single day. But I kept going, and that ended up bringing me on the career path that I'm on now. When you have a positive attitude and you're resourceful, you can really do anything."  Our first confession, "Can Lady," tells the story of an office production assistant who, after being hired to pick up an actor for costume fitting, gets into a car accident in the parking lot! Later, their domineering boss, the "Can Lady," unceremoniously fires them in the midst of a national emergency. But amazingly, despite these insane setbacks, the Confessor finds a way to spin all this to their advantage.It's a Man's World"I always thought I was guilty until proven innocent. And even if I was innocent, it didn’t matter. I would always say to myself, 'Are your shorts too short? Are you resting in a sexy way?' I didn’t even realize that this was complete sexual harassment."Confessor 2 is the only female on an all-male art department crew in "It's a Man's World," and they make her feel it. Despite working insane hours, taking on far more work than she's getting paid for, and putting up with aggressive sexual harassment, she doesn't get the credit she deserves. Instead, she gets falsely accused of stealing from the company... which leads her to a life-changing revelation.These two amazing confessions get into the following: How to survive in Hollywood -- literally! How to tell the difference between legitimate job stress and abusive behavior How to turn a difficult job experience into a positive career move Finally, we round out the episode with a shoutout to some people who are taking action to make Hollywood a happier place -- writer-producers Sam Ernst and Jim Dunn. Love the episode? Leave us a review and rating here! Other episodes we think you'll enjoy:"The Oligarch's Apprentice" & "Horse Stand-In" "Resting Smile Face" & "The Method" "Clipboard Girl"  Connect with us: Instagram Facebook Twitter Website Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine and J.R. Zamora-Thal. Sound Effects and Music provided by Zapsplat and Pixabay.Keywords: How to Break into Hollywood, Entertainment Industry Jobs, Entertainment Industry Podcast, Screenwriting Podcast, Filmmaking Podcast
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