First Act Break

Jiayang Liu and Yunqi Richard Li
  • 5.0 (3)
  • TV & FILM
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Insights on finding success in the film industry — by young filmmakers, for young filmmakers. Hosted by USC film directors Jiayang Liu and Richard Li.

  1. 11/23/2025

    How to Make Your First Feature Film and Premiere it at Tribeca | Chris Merola

    Welcome to episode 32 of The First Act Break podcast, the show where we dive into the art, business, and hustle of breaking into the film industry, and help you build a career doing what you love. In this episode, Tribeca feature film director Chris Merola breaks down exactly how he made his first feature film Lemonade Blessing and premiered it at the Tribeca Film Festival. He shares the full journey: from writing the script, fundraising, building a team, and navigating indie production, to landing reps, taking meetings, and understanding today’s brutal distribution landscape. Whether you're an aspiring director, indie filmmaker, or USC film student, this deep-dive reveals the real strategies, risks, and mindset needed to make your first feature.

    1h 17m

  2. 11/23/2025

    What It’s Like Editing Vertical Short Dramas | Eljin Yoo

    Welcome to episode 31 of The First Act Break podcast, the show where we dive into the art, business, and hustle of breaking into the film industry, and help you build a career doing what you love. Today, we bring on Elijin Yoo, a USC film school grad and editor of vertical short dramas. He breaks down how a musician’s rhythm shapes pacing, coverage, and storytelling for TikTok/Reels-style narrative edits, plus the key differences from traditional film editing. He shares the indie journey behind his short “Sonata” (SAG micro-budget, Seed&Spark crowdfunding, festival strategy) and previews his Koreatown drama “Sea Otter,” with practical advice on career stability and building toward a debut feature. We also tackle distribution trends and AI in filmmaking as well as actionable insights for editors, directors, and film students navigating today’s industry.

    1h 14m

  3. 11/22/2025

    The Emmy-Winning Composer Behind the NFL, NBA, FAZE, and Kai Cenat. | Mic Ferrante

    Welcome to episode 30 of The First Act Break podcast, the show where we dive into the art, business, and hustle of breaking into the film industry, and help you build a career doing what you love. Today, we bring on Mic Ferrante, an Emmy-Winning composer who's scored for the NFL, NBA, FAZE Clan, Kai Cenat and many more. He shares his experience going to music school and his recent career as a newly graduate pursing the composing dream. Timecodes: 00:00 Intro 00:01:58 Falling in love with scoring 00:05:26 First real paycheck as composer 00:06:28 Getting paid through commercial work 00:07:15 How composers actually get hired 00:08:59 Marketing yourself as a composer 00:09:27 Biggest thing directors should know 00:10:45 Working with big brands (NBA, USC) 00:12:17 How people find him for gigs 00:14:23 The USC “Among Us” horn 00:15:40 Writing for narrative vs commercial 00:18:52 How themes and melodies are born 00:20:01 Why melody matters so much 00:22:58 Writing personal music outside film 00:23:40 Studying great music 00:27:06 Do directors need “good taste”? 00:27:59 Temp scores: helpful or cheating? 00:30:07 Is there a “career path”? 00:31:31 How composers actually break in 00:33:59 Diversify or starve in music 00:34:59 Balancing creativity and mental health 00:35:12 Is music / film school worth it? 00:36:59 USC: connections vs. classes 00:38:02 Mozart vs. modern composers 00:40:46 Money stress after graduation 00:41:40 How much do gigs pay? 00:44:33 Learning when to say no 00:47:00 Will AI take composer jobs? 00:48:59 How he’s future-proofing with AI 00:50:00 Using AI in music workflow 00:50:36 Handling jealousy and comparison 00:51:57 Scoring for different directors’ styles 00:53:35 Worst kind of project experience 00:54:38 Running live sessions, leading people 00:55:51 How to get good at piano 00:58:17 Breaking down our scores together 01:02:22 Melodies of War breakdown 01:03:22 Love themes, character themes 01:04:48 How sets actually work (drama) 01:07:34 How we pulled off the musical 01:09:35 Writing songs fast for production 01:10:24 Question from last guest 01:11:20 Freelance goals (director POV)

    1h 14m

  4. 11/22/2025

    Lessons We Wish Our Younger Selves Knew About the Filmmaking Life

    Welcome to episode 29 of The First Act Break podcast, the show where we dive into the art, business, and hustle of breaking into the film industry, and help you build a career doing what you love. Today, hosts Richard and Jiayang chat about building a life outside and surrounding filmmaking. It's a discussion that reflects how to live a healthy artist lifestyle.Timecodes:00:00 Making movies is your whole life00:19 Life after USC Film School (graduation update)00:56 Nature, unplugging, and fixing burnout04:51 Family, guilt, and healing in China06:12 Preparing for “the real world” as a young filmmaker07:42 Don’t peak in college / You still have time10:51 Work–life balance vs full obsession with film11:55 Do you want greatness or happiness?14:39 Gratitude vs ambition: staying hungry without burning out16:00 The cost of dreams (Damien Chazelle conversation)19:12 Can you be a great director and still be a family person?20:14 You don’t have to be a tortured artist21:51 You don’t need it all figured out right now23:09 Death, purpose, and Stephen King on why art matters24:52 Acting class that changed how I direct30:47 Why great actors are insanely empathetic36:51 “I want to direct for the rest of my life”38:07 Art is why we’re alive43:34 Final thoughts: build a life beyond film

    45 min

  5. 11/22/2025

    We Ran a Podcast for 6 Months, Here's Everything we Learned.

    Welcome to episode 28 of The First Act Break podcast, the show where we dive into the art, business, and hustle of breaking into the film industry, and help you build a career doing what you love. This podcast has changed my life. One of the best decisions ever made. 25+ episodes later, here is everything I learned about running a podcast to help you guys get started on your own journeys. Timecode:00:00 Keep pushing — don’t quit00:00:23 6 months running our podcast00:01:58 Why we started this podcast00:03:38 Lessons from talking to filmmakers00:04:54 Our tiny-room podcast gear setup00:06:22 Start your own podcast cheap00:08:26 Favorite guests and biggest takeaways00:10:38 Getting better at interviewing guests00:12:04 Asking better questions, better stories00:14:16 Filmmaking, YouTube, and Jon M. Chu00:16:11 Consistency: why most podcasts die00:21:05 Podcasting, AI, and the future00:26:42 Will AI replace filmmakers?00:28:36 You can’t control the industry00:30:34 AI debate: both sides matter00:31:02 Outro / thanks for watching

    31 min

  6. 10/03/2025

    The Director who is Bringing back Classic Hollywood | Rhys Zemeckis

    Welcome to episode 27 of The First Act Break podcast, the show where we dive into the art, business, and hustle of breaking into the film industry, and help you build a career doing what you love. Today, we bring on Rhys Zemeckis, a USC film director with a passion for classic movies. He shares his experience growing up in a filmmaking family and lessons he learned about what makes a good film director.

    1h 20m

  7. 09/06/2025

    The NEW PATH to Become a Director after Film School | Teddy Alvarez-Nissen

    Welcome to episode 26 of The First Act Break podcast, the show where we dive into the art, business, and hustle of breaking into the film industry, and help you build a career doing what you love. Today, we bring on Teddy Alvarez-Nissen, a recently graduated USC film director. He shares his experience breaking into Hollywood and how he made a movie with snails. We discuss the what it takes for a director to succeed in the movie business and the path that led to him to being noticed at film festivals and by talent agencies.Time Stamps:(0:00) - Intro(3:49) - Learning Filmmaking as a Child(13:24) - Directing a Snail(16:11) - Building the Set(21:10) - Fantastical storytelling(25:27) - Finding Ideas(37:52) - Old Goat(40:29) - Film Festivals(46:38) - Best Marketing Tool(52:37) - Most Memorable Set(54:50) - 1st AD(1:00:10) - Networking(1:05:15) - Career Plan After College(1:11:57) - $3 Million Feature Idea(1:13:47) - AI isn’t directing

    1h 23m

  8. 08/15/2025

    What it takes to be a Hollywood Actor | Phinehas Yoon

    Welcome to episode 25 of The First Act Break podcast, the show where we dive into the art, business, and hustle of breaking into the film industry, and help you build a career doing what you love. Today, we bring on Phinehas Yoon, a professional actor with a recent lead role in a SXSW feature film. He shares his experience breaking into Hollywood. We discuss the what it takes for an actor to succeed in the movie business and the path that led to him starring in multiple high profile movies. Timecode: (00:56) - SXSW (01:48) - How We Met (04:51) - Beginnings (08:40) - Child Acting (09:51) - Asian American Actors (11:03) - Filmmaking & Acting (15:17) - Action Short (21:12) - Biggest Short Film (31:03) - Casting (33:30) - SXSW Film “It Ends” (39:20) - Financing & Casting the Film (45:00) - Rejection for Actors (51:02) - Is Acting Professional Lying? (53:23) -Breaking into the Industry Today (55:18) - Do YOU Need to be in LA? (57:16) - Getting an Agent/Manager (1:00:08) - Why Pursue this Path? (1:01:09) - Financial Security in Entertainment (1:02:16) - How to Adapt to Rapid Change (1:05:36) - Dream movie for $4mil (1:09:32) - Audition Opportunities (1:12:31) - Stereotypes in Asian American Screen Presence (1:14:36) - Getting Better Performances (01:19:20) - Trust Between Director and Actor (01:20:40) - Looks (01:30:29) - Question (01:34:01) - $6mil dream movie (01:35:08) - Sperm Race (01:36:56) - Deep Question (01:40:14) - What’s Next

    1h 41m
See All (33)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Insights on finding success in the film industry — by young filmmakers, for young filmmakers. Hosted by USC film directors Jiayang Liu and Richard Li.

Information

  • Creator
    Jiayang Liu and Yunqi Richard Li
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    33
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Jiayang Liu and Yunqi Richard Li
  • Show Website
    First Act Break