Industry & Career

Guest host Michael Ritter on a decade since USC SCA: who left the industry, feature directing rates, and advice for the Class of 2026.

Paths forward after a USC SCA rejection, including the host's own story.

From child performer to viral comedy star, life after the Palisades fire, and Instagram DM strategy.

Where the jobs are heading as traditional media shrinks and the creator economy grows.

Festival strategy, funding low-budget shorts, and working as a union production coordinator.

What Conclave got right and wrong about the Catholic Church, and portraying a community from the outside.

Publicity vs. PR, celebrity stunts, and studio-driven promotion.

Wildfire effects on production insurance and materials, plus the Stay in LA campaign.

Freelancing, stacking projects and referrals.

Networking, making your own work, and auditions.

Relocating to Berlin, European funding, and building a startup.

Faith, vocation and getting past personal obstacles in a creative career.

Practical AI uses, WGA and SAG guidelines, publicity rights and copyright.

A manager's path in, and what managers look for in clients.

Street interviews with filmmakers and attendees at Sundance and Slamdance.

Five questions to weigh before choosing film school.

Actors on the SAG-AFTRA strike, residuals, AI and auditions.

Writers on the WGA picket lines talk about the strike.

Upcoming projects, signing with an agent, and impostor syndrome.