Haute Honnah presents: Empty Talk

Imeldha Eloni & Michael Honnah

Haute Honnah presents Empty Talk is a podcast where they talk, debate, review and create film and TV content mainly from Britain. Imeldha Eloni and Michael Honnah are two freelance filmmakers from the UK creating an exciting space for new and interesting stories in the British film and TV industry. Their company, Haute Honnah, was founded in 2019.

  1. How to 'Be' An Actor: Grace Saif on colorblind casting, class and finding identity on screen

    10/30/2025

    How to 'Be' An Actor: Grace Saif on colorblind casting, class and finding identity on screen

    ✨Episode 8: British actress Grace Saif joins us for a searching conversation about acting, identity and the structures shaping British film and theatre. We dig into colorblind casting, representation, class, and how economics and fear are stalling bold stories. Grace speaks about her Kenyan roots, voice work, the indie game world, and what real cultural storytelling could look like when artists own their platforms. Chapters 00:00 Intro — Grace Saif on process and craft 14:00 The limits of colorblind casting and class perception 32:00 Acting, culture and the British industry’s blind spots 48:00 Black British stories and African narratives 1:00:00 The stagnation of UK theatre and creative risk 1:13:00 Games, indie storytelling and direct-to-audience creation 1:16:00 Advice for young artists finding their own lane 💡 Back our show: We're looking for misfits who could donate as little as 5 pounds. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1593674721/unwritten-making-a-tv-show-without-a-studio?ref=5vk9qy 🎙 Hosted by Michael & Imeldha Subscribe for new interviews every week with voices shaping culture. 📲 Follow us on Instagram, TikTok & X: @HauteHonnah @michael.honnah #GraceSaif #GraceSaifInterview #britishactress #ActingInterview #behindthescenes #actingjourney #UKTheatre #BlackBritishCulture #RepresentationInFilm #ColorblindCasting #creativeindustry #independentfilmmaking #HauteHonnah #MichaelHonnah #UKFilm #britishcinema #voiceacting #GamingAndFilm #culturalconversations #KenyanRoots #FilmPodcast #ActingPodcast #filmmakingpodcast #blackcreatives #actingcommunity #artandidentity #storytelling #actorslife #CreativeDialogue #filmculture

    1h 21m
  2. Commissioners Are Out of Touch — How To Get You Work Seen.

    10/18/2025

    Commissioners Are Out of Touch — How To Get You Work Seen.

    ✨ Episode 5: How to Get People to See Your Work Everyone says “put yourself out there” but what if no one’s watching? In this episode, Michael & Imeldha get brutally honest about why so many creatives feel invisible, how the TV industry lost touch, and why the internet is now the real frontier for artists, filmmakers, and weirdos trying to make their own lane. They talk about the fall of commissioners, the streaming crisis, and the power of DIY culture plus why Unwritten and Empty Talk are proof that you don’t need permission to be seen. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and drop a comment on how YOU get your work seen. Apologies for the late upload x 🚨🚨OUR KICKSTARTER IS LIVE!!! PLEASE DONATE HERE🚨🚨: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1593674721/unwritten-making-a-tv-show-without-a-studio?ref=5vk9qy\ 🎙 Hosted by Michael & Imeldha Subscribe for weekly episodes on film, culture, and the DIY grind of making it happen. References: https://deadline.com/2025/06/uk-culture-secretary-lisa-nandy-on-dramatic-shift-in-tv-commissioning-1236421533/ https://deadline.com/2024/09/pact-death-mid-budget-broadcasters-edinburgh-tv-festival-1236083403/ https://deadline.com/2025/01/bbc-alarm-uk-scripted-funding-crisis-productions-stuck-in-limbo-1236266257/ https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/youtube-ofcom-report-bbc-itv-b2798599.html https://www.advanced-television.com/2025/09/10/report-sluggish-growth-for-uk-tv-production-revenues/ #EmptyTalk #HowToBeSeen #CreativeJourney #FilmIndustry #UKFilm #IndieFilm #BlackBritishFilm #CommissionerCrisis #Filmmaking #Storytelling #Podcast #CreativeProcess #MakeYourOwnWay #BustAGutProductions

    42 min

About

Haute Honnah presents Empty Talk is a podcast where they talk, debate, review and create film and TV content mainly from Britain. Imeldha Eloni and Michael Honnah are two freelance filmmakers from the UK creating an exciting space for new and interesting stories in the British film and TV industry. Their company, Haute Honnah, was founded in 2019.