The Creative Gap

Gian Carlo Stigliano
  • 5.0 (39)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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. JAN 27

    #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

    1h 2m

  2. JAN 20

    #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

  3. JAN 13

    #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

    1h 3m

  4. JAN 6

    #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

    1h 8m

  5. 12/29/2025

    #77 - 5 Lessons I Learned From a Year of Conversations (2025)

    This last episode of 2025 is really just me taking a breath and looking back. All year, I’ve had the chance to sit across from people I genuinely admire and listen to their stories — not just the wins, but the doubts, the fear, the growing pains, and the parts of their lives they don’t always share publicly. Without realizing it at first, those conversations started shaping how I see my own life and the way I want to move into this next year. What stood out to me was how similar the lessons were, even though everyone’s path looked different: there’s no linear road, only commitment; kindness matters more than we think; sustainability beats burnout; fear never really leaves, but experience teaches you how to keep going anyway; and at the end of it all, people matter more than projects. This episode isn’t about having it all figured out — it’s about recognizing where we are right now, finding peace in the process, and reminding ourselves that if we’re stepping into a new year feeling unsure, tired, or hopeful but unclear, we’re not behind. We’re just starting again. JOIN CIVA COLLECTIVE ► https://www.civacollective.com/ USE THE CODE: TCG20 TO RECEIVE 20% OFF "THE FOUNDATION" MEMBERSHIP 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

    25 min

  6. 12/16/2025

    #76 - ANGELICA STIGLIANO - A CONVERSATION ABOUT MARRIAGE, CAREERS & STABILITY

    In this episode of The Creative Gap Podcast, Carlo & his wife Angelica sit down for an honest conversation about marriage, identity, and choosing fulfillment in an unpredictable creative life. Together, you reflect on her decision to leave a traditional job to pursue freelance work in yoga and wellness, the emotional highs and lows that come with that shift, and the identity changes that follow when you stop chasing “stability” and start building something meaningful. The conversation expands into marriage, compromise, redefining success beyond money, and creating a life rooted in presence, purpose, and long-term sustainability—ending with a reminder to practice contentment (santosha) while still allowing space to grow. JOIN CIVA COLLECTIVE ► https://www.civacollective.com/USE THE CODE: TCG20 TO RECEIVE 20% OFF "THE FOUNDATION" MEMBERSHIP Follow Us! Angelica:  ⁠Instagram Carlo: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Website⁠⁠ The Creative Gap:⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠ |⁠ ⁠Youtube⁠⁠ SUPPORT THE PODCAST ON⁠ ⁠PATREON⁠ ____________________________________________________ ⚙️ 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

    1h 2m

  7. 12/09/2025

    #75 – Patrick Tomasso – Finding Yourself as a Creator

    In this episode, Carlo sits down with filmmaker and YouTuber Patrick Tomasso for a deep, honest conversation about navigating creativity, identity, and longevity in the digital world. Patrick opens up about evolving beyond gear reviews, embracing video essays, and why passion—not algorithms—must guide your work. Together, they explore the fear of changing niches, the pressure to post constantly, maintaining integrity with brands, and the importance of building a genuine connection with an audience who resonates with who you really are. Grounded in vulnerability, humor, and real creative experience, this episode is a reminder that the most meaningful work comes from following your curiosity, trusting your voice, and continuously redefining yourself as you grow.JOIN CIVA COLLECTIVE ► https://www.civacollective.com/USE THE CODE: TCG20 TO RECEIVE 20% OFF "THE FOUNDATION" MEMBERSHIP PATRICK TOMASSO:  ⁠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

    1h 42m

  8. 11/24/2025

    #74 - Nicholas Bluff - The Creator of BLUFF BOUNCE & how curiosity shaped his career and business.

    In this episode of The Creative Gap, cinematographer and entrepreneur Nicholas Bluff shares how his creative journey evolved from filming parkour videos in Copenhagen to founding Bluff Bounce, a lighting innovation now used by filmmakers worldwide. He reflects on lessons learned from working in the lighting and camera departments, the cultural contrasts between filmmaking in Denmark and Brazil, and how observation and curiosity led him to develop a product that replicates the beauty of natural light. Nicholas discusses balancing art and entrepreneurship, building structure to fuel creativity, and the importance of presence, awareness, and authenticity in a world driven by speed and imitation. JOIN CIVA COLLECTIVE ► ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.civacollective.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Us! Nicholas Bluff:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluff Bounce: 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

    1h 6m
See All (87)

5
out of 5
39 Ratings

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
    87
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Gian Carlo Stigliano
  • Show Website
    The Creative Gap

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