The Creative Gap

Gian Carlo Stigliano
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The Creative Gap Podcast is for Filmmakers, Entrepreneurs & Creatives. Our goal is to provide conversations around rarely-discussed topics, including Personal Finance, Mental Health, Business, Investments, Relationships, Freelance Life and so much more. Hear from weekly guests on all podcasting platforms.

  1. 12 HR AGO

    #85 - Sam Snowden - Building a Creative Agency

    This conversation with Sam Snowden dives into the evolving mindset of a creative navigating purpose, pressure, and identity in a saturated digital landscape. He reflects on how growing responsibilities and external expectations can distort your original “why,” emphasizing the importance of returning to your roots and creating for the younger version of yourself. The discussion explores the unpredictability of freelance life, the danger of relying on external validation, and the need to build self-assurance through things beyond work—like relationships, fitness, and lived experience. Sam highlights the balance between ambition and not being consumed by your craft, reframing obsession as consistent curiosity rather than burnout. Ultimately, the conversation centers on taking action (“create more”), embracing failure as a necessary part of growth, and defining success on your own terms rather than through comparison or metrics. Switch to Musicbed and start your 14-day free trial today: ⁠⁠⁠https://fm.pxf.io/tcgp-freetrial⁠⁠⁠ Sign up to Milanote for free with no time-limit: ⁠⁠⁠https://milanote.com/carlostigs⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about Nanlite & Nanlux Products: ⁠⁠⁠https://nanlite.com/⁠⁠⁠ // ⁠⁠⁠https://www.nanlux.com/#/en⁠⁠ 🤝 Follow Sam ► https://www.instagram.com/samsnowden 🤝 Subscribe ► ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@samsnowden⁠ 🤝 Follow The Podcast & Carlo! The Creative Gap: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/creativegap/⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CreativeGapPodcast⁠⁠⁠ Carlo: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/carlostigs/⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@carlostigs⁠

    1hr 19min

  2. 17 MAR

    #84 - LIFE OF RIZA - The Pursuit of Creative Balance

    In this conversation, Kariza Santos reflects on her journey as a filmmaker and YouTube creator, discussing the realities of building a creative career while trying to maintain balance in life. She shares how freelancing, experimentation, and years of learning eventually led her to develop a cinematic storytelling style on YouTube, while also navigating the constant pressure to produce content in a fast-moving digital space. Kariza talks about the importance of structure, boundaries, and time-blocking to avoid burnout, as well as the role of mentorship, collaboration, and community in helping creators grow. Ultimately, she emphasizes that creativity is a long-term pursuit built on persistence, curiosity, and self-awareness—encouraging creators to focus less on algorithms or perfection and more on finding their voice, continuing to learn, and creating work they’re genuinely proud of. Switch to Musicbed and start your 14-day free trial today: ⁠⁠https://fm.pxf.io/tcgp-freetrial⁠⁠ Sign up to Milanote for free with no time-limit: ⁠⁠https://milanote.com/carlostigs⁠⁠ Learn more about Nanlite & Nanlux Products: ⁠⁠https://nanlite.com/⁠⁠ // ⁠⁠https://www.nanlux.com/#/en⁠ 🤝 Follow Kariza ► ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/lifeofriza 🤝 Subscribe ► https://www.youtube.com/lifeofriza 🤝 Follow The Podcast & Carlo! The Creative Gap: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/creativegap/⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CreativeGapPodcast⁠⁠ Carlo: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/carlostigs/⁠⁠ | ⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@carlostigs⁠

    1hr 9min

  3. 10 MAR

    #83 - Ryan Booth - Choosing Conviction Over Comfort

    Ryan Booth shares an honest and deeply thoughtful look at what it actually means to grow as a filmmaker. From breaking out of the commercial “box” that once defined him to directing his first feature "Stages" after an eight-year journey, Ryan unpacks the tension between comfort and conviction — and what each stage of his career demanded of him. He reflects on moving from DP to commercial director to narrative filmmaker, learning to take full ownership of a vision, and collaborating without losing authority. This conversation explores leadership, vulnerability, agency politics, intuition, and the endurance required to bring a feature to life. At its core, it’s about the courage to stop trying to make everyone happy and instead stand firmly behind your voice — embracing the reality that the chaos and uncertainty never disappear, they simply evolve as you do. Switch to Musicbed and start your 14-day free trial today: ⁠https://fm.pxf.io/tcgp-freetrial⁠ Sign up to Milanote for free with no time-limit: ⁠https://milanote.com/carlostigs⁠ Learn more about Nanlite & Nanlux Products: ⁠https://nanlite.com/⁠ // ⁠https://www.nanlux.com/#/en 🤝 Follow Ryan ► ⁠https://www.instagram.com/ryanbooth/ 🤝 Follow The Podcast & Carlo! The Creative Gap: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/creativegap/⁠ | ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CreativeGapPodcast⁠ Carlo: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/carlostigs/⁠ | ⁠ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@carlostigs⁠

    1hr 31min

  4. 3 MAR

    #82 - Blaine Westropp - Your STYLE is the KEY

    In this episode, Blaine Westrup reflects on the slow, earned process of finding your style as a filmmaker and the confidence that only comes through time, failure, and self-critique. He shares pivotal on-set struggles that shaped his growth, the tension between ownership and collaboration as a DP, and the importance of culture, energy, and “vibe time” on set. Blaine dives into risk—both financial and creative—and how saying “yes” more often changed his trajectory. He speaks candidly about YouTube as a creative logbook rather than an algorithm game, the discipline required to survive the highs and lows of freelance life, and why stepping away from the camera can sharpen your voice. Ultimately, his definition of success isn’t fame or money, but an inner calm—a grounded confidence in the direction he’s walking and the life he’s building beyond just the frame. Switch to Musicbed and start your 14-day free trial today: https://fm.pxf.io/tcgp-freetrial Sign up to Milanote for free with no time-limit: https://milanote.com/carlostigs Learn more about Nanlite & Nanlux Products: https://nanlite.com/ // https://www.nanlux.com/#/en 🤝 Follow Blaine ► https://www.instagram.com/wstrpp/ Subscribe to Blaine ► https://www.youtube.com/@BlaineWestropp1 🤝 Follow The Podcast & Carlo! The Creative Gap: https://www.instagram.com/creativegap/ | https://www.youtube.com/@CreativeGapPodcast Carlo: https://www.instagram.com/carlostigs/ | ⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@carlostigs

    1hr 29min

  5. 27 JAN

    #81 - Matt Aitia - What It Really Takes to Make Your First Short Film

    In this episode of The Creative Gap Podcast, filmmaker and YouTuber Matt Aitia opens up about risk, identity, and the long road toward creative ownership. The conversation begins with a reflection on resilience, patience, and betting on yourself when there are no guarantees. Matt breaks down his approach to goal-setting, consistency on YouTube, and why process matters more than surface-level metrics. He shares how stepping away from steady lighting work forced him to confront fear, redefine success, and rebuild his identity beyond job titles. A major focus of the episode is his short film Get Up, Try Again—from self-funding and committing real money, to directing for the first time, navigating anxiety, post-production setbacks, and learning when to “kill your darlings.” Together, the conversation explores mentorship, networking as relationship-building (not transactions), the emotional cost of creative transitions, and why sustainability—not status—is the real measure of success. It’s an honest look at what it means to keep creating, even when certainty disappears. JOIN CIVA COLLECTIVE ► https://www.civacollective.com/ WATCH TRAIN GET UP, TRY AGAIN ON YOUTUBE ► https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ho6585isjY Follow Us! Matt Aitia:  ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠ Carlo: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Creative Gap:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠ ____________________________________________________ ⚙️ GEAR USED TO MAKE THIS PODCAST: Rodecaster Pro II:⁠⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/3RluSeV⁠⁠⁠ Rode Podmic:⁠⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/3RpaR77⁠⁠⁠ Mic Stand:⁠⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/4caJUfi⁠⁠⁠ Camera 1:⁠⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/45h5E7b⁠⁠⁠ Camera 2:⁠⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/45g8iKx⁠⁠⁠ Light:⁠⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/3KK6XSt⁠

    1hr 2min

  6. 20 JAN

    #80 - Nica Fazio - A Film Career Built on Persistence & Kindness

    In this episode, Nica Fazio shares a grounded and honest look at what it truly takes to grow in the film industry. After moving from another country to New York, she reflects on the non-linear reality of building a career on set—navigating visas, cultural shifts, and the challenge of starting from zero in an unfamiliar industry. Rather than relying on shortcuts or titles, Nica’s path has been shaped by persistence, curiosity, and showing up with humility. Alongside her growth as a working grip and electric, she has also built an authentic presence on social media, using it as a tool to share her experiences, educate, and encourage others. Through this visibility, Nica has become an inspiration to many women around the world, showing that a career in film—especially in technical departments—is not only possible, but attainable. Her story is a powerful reminder that film careers are built slowly, through kindness, trust, and the courage to keep going when the path isn’t clear. JOIN CIVA COLLECTIVE ► https://www.civacollective.com/ USE THE CODE: TCG20 TO RECEIVE 20% OFF "THE FOUNDATION" MEMBERSHIP Follow Us! Nica Fazio:  ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Community Instagram Carlo: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Creative Gap:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠ ____________________________________________________ ⚙️ GEAR USED TO MAKE THIS PODCAST: Rodecaster Pro II:⁠⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/3RluSeV⁠⁠⁠ Rode Podmic:⁠⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/3RpaR77⁠⁠⁠ Mic Stand:⁠⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/4caJUfi⁠⁠⁠ Camera 1:⁠⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/45h5E7b⁠⁠⁠ Camera 2:⁠⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/45g8iKx⁠⁠⁠ Light:⁠⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/3KK6XSt⁠

    59 min

  7. 13 JAN

    #79 – Adolpho Veloso, ABC, AIP – Cinematography Rooted in Trust

    In this episode of The Creative Gap, cinematographer Adolpho Veloso reflects on the long arc of a creative career—moving from instinct and innocence to experience, restraint, and trust. Through stories from Train Dreams, he shares how embracing limitations, trusting instinct, and reconnecting with early creative innocence helped him find freedom again—both on set and in life. This episode explores how growth as a DP is deeply tied to growth as a human—learning patience, accepting imperfection, and understanding that the film is always bigger than any single decision or mistake (you make). The conversation explores choosing projects with intention, leading through calm and collaboration, navigating limitations as creative fuel, and redefining success beyond technical perfection. At its core, this episode is about presence: on set, in relationships, and in life. This episode is less about how to shoot a film and more about how to live alongside the work without losing yourself in the process. JOIN CIVA COLLECTIVE ► https://www.civacollective.com/ WATCH TRAIN DREAMS ON NETFLIX ► https://www.netflix.com/title/82020378 Follow Us! Adolpho Veloso, ABC, AIP:  ⁠⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠⁠Website⁠ Carlo: ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠ The Creative Gap:⁠⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠ ⁠Youtube⁠⁠ ____________________________________________________ ⚙️ GEAR USED TO MAKE THIS PODCAST: Rodecaster Pro II:⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/3RluSeV⁠⁠ Rode Podmic:⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/3RpaR77⁠⁠ Mic Stand:⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/4caJUfi⁠⁠ Camera 1:⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/45h5E7b⁠⁠ Camera 2:⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/45g8iKx⁠⁠ Light:⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/3KK6XSt⁠

    1hr 3min

  8. 6 JAN

    #78 - Todd Banhazl, ASC. - Why Set Culture Creates Better Work

    In this episode, Todd Banhazl reflects on cinematography as both a craft and a place of meaning, emphasizing that a DP’s real responsibility goes far beyond the image—it’s about creating a safe, trusting, and energized environment where people can do their best work. He and Carlo talk through leadership learned by failing and repairing, why attitude and emotional awareness matter as much as talent, and how early alignment with directors and departments prevents creative conflict later on. They explore the tension between saying yes out of fear versus curating projects with intention, the shifting definition of “independent film” in a streaming-driven industry, and the importance of protecting taste, patience, and process in a culture that moves too fast. The conversation closes with a grounded perspective on joy and priorities, as Todd shares how fatherhood and family have reshaped how he chooses work—and clarified which projects are truly worth the time and energy they demand. JOIN CIVA COLLECTIVE ► https://www.civacollective.com/ USE THE CODE: TCG20 TO RECEIVE 20% OFF "THE FOUNDATION" MEMBERSHIP Follow Us! Todd Banhazl, ASC.:  ⁠⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠⁠Website⁠ Carlo: ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠ The Creative Gap:⁠⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠ ⁠Youtube⁠⁠ ____________________________________________________ ⚙️ GEAR USED TO MAKE THIS PODCAST: Rodecaster Pro II:⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/3RluSeV⁠⁠ Rode Podmic:⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/3RpaR77⁠⁠ Mic Stand:⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/4caJUfi⁠⁠ Camera 1:⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/45h5E7b⁠⁠ Camera 2:⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/45g8iKx⁠⁠ Light:⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/3KK6XSt⁠

    1hr 8min
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About

The Creative Gap Podcast is for Filmmakers, Entrepreneurs & Creatives. Our goal is to provide conversations around rarely-discussed topics, including Personal Finance, Mental Health, Business, Investments, Relationships, Freelance Life and so much more. Hear from weekly guests on all podcasting platforms.

Information

  • Creator
    Gian Carlo Stigliano
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    91
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Gian Carlo Stigliano
  • Show Website
    The Creative Gap

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