The Hollywood Makers

Rossy E. Eguigure

A real-talk podcast about what’s really happening in media & entertainment, who’s rising, who’s falling, and what it all means for storytellers and brands. We break down the big changes, spotlight creatives and execs using new tech and creative storytelling that really connects with diverse audiences to make an impact and move the industry forward. As part of an evolving Media Lab initiative, THM also expands into a collaborative space where emerging voices and industry perspectives come together to explore how media is actually being created, distributed, and experienced today. Part of the Dale, Cuéntame® (Go Ahead, Tell Me) Network. Created by Rossy E. Eguigure & Produced by Rx Media Productions. First seasons hosted by Carly Loughran and Claudia Cano-Asbjornsen. rossyeeguigure.substack.com

  1. 20 Oct

    Andy Umperger on Broadway, Law & Order, Buffy, and Building a 40-Year Acting Career

    In this episode of The Hollywood Makers, host Valeria sits down with veteran stage and screen actor Andy Umperger. His career began in the regional theaters of Richmond and Washington, DC, took him through Broadway in City of Angels, Passion, and the 25th anniversary revival of Company, and landed him in Los Angeles in 1997. Since then he has become a familiar face on screen, from the demon D’Hoffryn on Buffy the Vampire Slayer (five hours of prosthetics in the makeup chair) to Angel, Waco, and The Accountant. Andy talks about why live theater is still his first love, how he makes quick character choices for guest roles, and why he thinks theater training gives young actors an edge. He also gets into what makes a great villain, what it’s like to be typecast as the FBI agent, the DA, or the judge, and how his definition of success has changed over four decades. They also discuss where the industry is headed: shrinking production in LA, streaming blurring the line between film and TV, and what AI could mean for actors. The episode closes with Andy’s recommendations and his advice for anyone starting out: get used to frustration, keep honing your craft, and persevere. The Hollywood Makers is a space for honest conversations about the evolution of media, technology, and the entertainment industry, spotlighting multicultural creatives, both emerging and experienced, who are shaping what comes next. Thanks for listening, and welcome to the community. Subscribe to The Hollywood Makers on Substack, podcast apps and on YouTube so you never miss an episode, and share this one with a creative in your life. We’ll see you in the next one!🎬 Thanks for being here! Subscribe for free to get new posts from Rx MEDIA + CULTURE, and share this with someone who’d enjoy it. 🎬 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rossyeeguigure.substack.com

    Andy Umperger on Broadway, Law & Order, Buffy, and Building a 40-Year Acting Career

  2. 9 Oct

    Closing Hispanic Heritage Month 2026 with a Filmmaker Who Won't Look Away

    Episode by Anna Poghosyan Enrique Pedraza-Botero went to film school for narrative fiction. Then a documentary class got his attention, and he’s been following real stories ever since. A short about young men and the transactional side of online culture. A film about immigration in Miami that now plays like a time capsule. And a new project that’s moving as fast as the headlines. How do you make a film when the story changes faster than you can shoot it? And what does an immigrant filmmaker from Colombia do with a camera when the news is unfolding on the streets around him? As Hispanic Heritage Month closes, we’re honoring this year’s theme, Unidos, Somos Más (Together, We Are More), with a conversation about community, storytelling, and amplifying marginalized voices. Hosted by THM Associate Producer Anna Poghosyan. Press play. Subscribe for free to receive new posts! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rossyeeguigure.substack.com

    Closing Hispanic Heritage Month 2026 with a Filmmaker Who Won't Look Away

  3. 25 Sept

    Celebrating our Latinidad: Filmmaker Merced Elizondo, “Unidos Somos Más”

    This month we’re celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month with a filmmaker whose entire body of work is proof of what happens when you stop waiting for permission (a lo latino ;) In this episode, Anna sits down with director and writer Merced Elizondo (Manos de Oro, And Then Everything Turned Itself Inside Out) to talk about growing up in Dallas, Texas with a house full of borrowed VHS tapes, learning to direct through trial by fire, and why he believes some of the best scenes are the ones that break away from the script. Merced opens up about collaboration on set, writing from a place that’s deeply personal, and what it actually takes to survive the festival circuit as a first-generation filmmaker. It’s an honest, generous conversation about craft, identity, and why he’d rather make one good movie than chase the trend. New episode of The Hollywood Makers is live now! Subscribe for free to receive new posts! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rossyeeguigure.substack.com

    Celebrating our Latinidad: Filmmaker Merced Elizondo, “Unidos Somos Más”

  4. 21 Aug

    Actor George Finn on Trading Auditions for the Producer's Chair | ‘Atlas King' Movie

    In our episodes of The Hollywood Makers, we’re looking for the same thing: people who are actually inside the changes happening in the media industry right now. This week’s guest, actor George Finn, is exactly that. George stars opposite Michael Bisping and Cuba Gooding Jr. in Atlas King, a crime thriller he didn’t just act in, he helped build it from the inside with his brother, director Nika Agiashvili. To play the part, he trained twice a day alongside actual UFC and Pride fighters. Host Valeria Asbjornsen has an honest and lively conversation with him about the choices people don’t see on screen. George also shares his take on AI in film, as someone who has genuinely thought about where it helps creators move faster and where it affects the work entirely. And something very interesting that’s been building for the past decade or so: he’s honest about the follower-count era of auditioning, the pressure every actor now carries to be a brand before they’re ever cast, and what that does to the stories that get greenlit. This is why we keep having these conversations. The industry is being rebuilt in real time, by tech, by new distribution, by who gets access and who is building their own roads, and the people living through that change have the most honest read on where it’s headed. George gave us that. Atlas King hits streaming platforms on August 21st! Watch it on Apple TV, Amazon Video, or Fandango. Listen to Valeria’s conversation (no filter) with George Finn on your favorite podcast app or watch the full episode on YouTube before you stream the movie! Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to get my latest articles and insider conversations with the new era of Hollywood Makers, and catch where the industry is going next. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rossyeeguigure.substack.com

    Actor George Finn on Trading Auditions for the Producer's Chair | ‘Atlas King' Movie

  5. 13 Aug

    Keanush Tafreshi on Rejection, Representation, and Becoming Hassan Zamani in 'The Agency' Series.

    What does it mean to bring authenticity to a character when your own cultural identity becomes part of the process? Actor Keanush Tafreshi joins Mona on The Hollywood Makers to talk about it. From theater stages to sharing the screen with names like Richard Gere and Michael Fassbender in The Agency, Keanush opens up about playing Hassan Zamani with vulnerability and complexity instead of stereotype, and what it meant to reconnect with Farsi, the language he grew up speaking, as part of preparing for the role. He also gets honest about rejection, uncertainty, and the discipline it takes to keep showing up for your craft. This one hits different if you’ve ever chased something the industry didn’t hand you. 🎙️Listen now on The Hollywood Makers podcast and on YouTube Promotional images courtesy of Paramount+ Press Express. Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: EKZWWFWWAUUESSIY Subscribe for free to receive new posts! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rossyeeguigure.substack.com

    Keanush Tafreshi on Rejection, Representation, and Becoming Hassan Zamani in 'The Agency' Series.

  6. 30 Jul

    How to Build a Film Festival for Independent Voices

    What happens when two childhood friends run into each other on a Hollywood set and decide to throw a small “pop-up” film screening in a Soho loft? You expect maybe 20 or 30 submissions from local friends. Instead, you get hit with a tidal wave. Seventeen years later, the Soho International Film Festival has evolved into one of New York City’s most passionate, fiercely loyal hubs for independent cinema. But holding onto the raw, grassroots spirit of indie filmmaking in an era dominated by corporate mega-festivals, AI, and streaming giants isn’t easy—it’s a high-stakes balancing act. In this episode of the Hollywood Makers Podcast, host Anna Poghosyan sits down with multi-hyphenate creator and SOHO Film Fest Executive Director Sybil Santiago to pull back the curtain on what it really takes to build, curate, and protect a space for independent storytellers. In this episode: * The Soho Loft That Started It All: The accidental birth of a 17-year New York institution, and why standard film festivals were failing indie creators from the start. * The Anti-Theme Philosophy: Why Sybil completely rejects themed blocks or rigid genres when programming, and the surprising way she arranges short films to manipulate audience emotion. * Story vs. Star Power: What actually makes a submission stand out among thousands (and why an A-list cast won’t save a weak film). * The Golden Rule for Filmmakers: The single biggest mistake indie creators make when attending festivals, and how to actually turn a screening into long-term career momentum. “Film festivals were created to discover new voices, not just to sell commercial space. We can’t turn our backs on the storytellers who are still finding theirs.” This episode is part of THM Lab, our Gen Z creator series from The Hollywood Makers, with conversations on what’s next in the evolution of the media industry. Press play above to watch the full conversation with Sybil Santiago, and discover what it takes to survive, and thrive, in the world of independent film festivals. You can also listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, AmazonMusic and all podcast apps. Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: YPQQZFF77PVVIJWM Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to hit the Subscribe and share this post with fellow filmmakers and movie lovers! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rossyeeguigure.substack.com

    How to Build a Film Festival for Independent Voices

  7. 23 Jul

    Joey Cash on Perfectionism, Record Deals, and Making Music

    This episode, Mona sits down with EDM artist Joey Cash for a raw, no-filter conversation about what it actually takes to build a music career on your own terms. Joey talks about his path from classical violin to guitar to full-blown electronic music, and how “Are You Kissing Anyone” first put him on the map, even though he now calls it his least favorite song. The conversation gets real when Joey opens up about perfectionism and overproduction as his biggest creative obstacles. He also drops some blunt advice for anyone trying to break into the industry, so if your area as a Hollywood Maker is the music industry, this episoe may be for you. Joey also shares how social media reshaped the music business for young artists, and what fans can expect from his upcoming tour. This is a look at what it means to make music as a young artist right now. 🎧 Follow Joey Cash: Spotify, Apple Music, Instagram, and TikTok This episode is part of THM Lab, our Gen Z creator series from The Hollywood Makers. Subscribe to be part of our community! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rossyeeguigure.substack.com

  8. 17 Jul

    Same Faces, Different Movie

    New Hollywood Makers episode is up. Valeria sat down with her film school friend Amanda for a conversation that unpacks post grad life in this industry in a way that feels honest, not scripted. The title comes from a moment in the episode where they get into typecasting: the actors we keep seeing cast in the exact same role, versus the ones who actually surprise us. It turns into one of those tangents that says a lot about where the industry is right now, and it’s exactly the kind of fresh perspective our younger contributors from THM lab bring to the show, alongside every other multicultural voice and generation we feature. They also get into the realities of breaking in behind the scenes, a moment about an indie film that basically sums up why 2026 has been such a wild year for young filmmakers (Can you guess?) and a story about one tiny edit that completely changed a movie’s ending. Plus some advice at the end that honestly applies to more than just film. Go listen. hero, on your favorite podcast app, or watch the full episode on YouTube. Subscribe for free to receive new posts! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rossyeeguigure.substack.com

    Same Faces, Different Movie
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About

A real-talk podcast about what’s really happening in media & entertainment, who’s rising, who’s falling, and what it all means for storytellers and brands. We break down the big changes, spotlight creatives and execs using new tech and creative storytelling that really connects with diverse audiences to make an impact and move the industry forward. As part of an evolving Media Lab initiative, THM also expands into a collaborative space where emerging voices and industry perspectives come together to explore how media is actually being created, distributed, and experienced today. Part of the Dale, Cuéntame® (Go Ahead, Tell Me) Network. Created by Rossy E. Eguigure & Produced by Rx Media Productions. First seasons hosted by Carly Loughran and Claudia Cano-Asbjornsen. rossyeeguigure.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Rossy E. Eguigure
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    78
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Rossy E. Eguigure
  • Show Website
    The Hollywood Makers