The Actor-to-Producer Pipeline with Nicole Rivera of Dead Horse Productions

The Actor-to-Producer Pipeline with Nicole Rivera of Dead Horse Productions

What does it really take to make the leap from actor to producer? This week on CK Café, Ethan Felizzari-Castillo [https://instagram.com/ethanfelizzari] & Rosie Dean [https://instagram.com/rosiedean21] sit down with Nicole Rivera [https://www.instagram.com/nicole.rvra/], producer and co-founder of Dead Horse Productions [https://www.instagram.com/deadhorse.co/], to talk about building a career on both sides of the camera and the stage. From producing independent theatre and film to balancing the demands of acting while leading productions, Nicole shares the realities of wearing multiple hats in today's entertainment industry. The conversation explores creative collaboration, producing with limited resources, building sustainable artistic communities, and what it truly means to create work the independent way! Follow and support Nicole & Dead Horse Productions' work: https://www.instagram.com/deadhorse.co/ [https://www.instagram.com/deadhorse.co/] https://www.instagram.com/nicole.rvra/ [https://www.instagram.com/nicole.rvra/] https://www.nicolemrivera.com/ [https://www.nicolemrivera.com/] What is CK Café? CK Café is a podcast and live conversation series by CK Productions spotlighting creators who are building their careers in film, music, theatre and beyond. Each episode explores the artist’s personal journey, the challenges they’ve faced, and the love behind their work. Whether through deep-dive interviews, behind-the-scenes breakdowns, or live panels, CK Café offers inspiration and real talk for artists and audiences alike. Follow CK's journey at https://instagram.com/ckproductionsny [https://instagram.com/ckproductionsny] and on Substack https://ckproductions.substack.com/ [https://ckproductions.substack.com/] Visit our website to learn more about CK at https://ckproductionsnewyork.com  [https://ckproductionsnewyork.com%20/] CK Café is Hosted by Rosie Dean (@RosieDean21 [https://instagram.com/rosiedean21]) and Ethan Felizzari-Castillo (@ethanfelizzari [https://instagram.com/ethanfelizzari]) and produced by produced by Anabella Barrios & CK Records (A CK Productions Co.). [https://instagram.com/ckrecordsny]

Jumping from Shorts to Features w/ Apple House Pictures' Grant & Adam Conversano

This week on CK Café, Ethan Felizzari-Castillo and Rosie Dean sit down with filmmaking duo, brothers Grant and Adam Conversano, the team behind Apple House Pictures. Together, they discuss the realities of independent filmmaking today, their work in documentary, and the exciting challenge of making the leap from short films to feature filmmaking. The conversation explores building a production company with family, navigating the ever-changing film industry, and the lessons they've learned while developing larger-scale projects. Whether you're an aspiring filmmaker or a seasoned creative, Grant and Adam offer an honest look at what it takes to keep making movies in today's landscape. A conversation about storytelling, collaboration, and taking the next step in your filmmaking journey! Follow and support Apple House Picture's work: https://www.instagram.com/applehousepictures/ [https://www.instagram.com/applehousepictures/] https://www.applehousepictures.com/ [https://www.applehousepictures.com/] https://www.instagram.com/grantconversano/ [https://www.instagram.com/grantconversano/] https://www.instagram.com/adam.conversano/ [https://www.instagram.com/adam.conversano/] What is CK Café? CK Café is a podcast and live conversation series by CK Productions spotlighting creators who are building their careers in film, music, theatre and beyond. Each episode explores the artist’s personal journey, the challenges they’ve faced, and the love behind their work. Whether through deep-dive interviews, behind-the-scenes breakdowns, or live panels, CK Café offers inspiration and real talk for artists and audiences alike. Follow CK's journey at https://instagram.com/ckproductionsny [https://instagram.com/ckproductionsny] and on Substack https://ckproductions.substack.com/ [https://ckproductions.substack.com/] Visit our website to learn more about CK at https://ckproductionsnewyork.com  [https://ckproductionsnewyork.com%20/] CK Café is Hosted by Rosie Dean (@RosieDean21 [https://instagram.com/rosiedean21]) and Ethan Felizzari-Castillo (@ethanfelizzari [https://instagram.com/ethanfelizzari]) and produced by produced by Anabella Barrios & CK Records (A CK Productions Co.). [https://instagram.com/ckrecordsny]

The Power of Being a "Joy" on Set with Joy Walsh

CK Café is back with an all-new episode featuring filmmaker, producer, photographer, and all-around creative force Joy Walsh. In this conversation, Joy joins the show to discuss the realities of being a multi-hyphenate artist in today's film industry, what it means to wear multiple hats on set, and how embracing a wide range of creative skills has shaped her career. From producing independent films to directing projects, photography, and balancing the demands of freelance creative work, Joy shares honest insights into building a sustainable life in the arts. They also dive into the importance of gratitude, maintaining a positive attitude on set, and why being a true "joy" to collaborate with can be just as valuable as technical talent. Plus, Joy gives us a look at several exciting projects currently on her horizon! Joy also served as a Producer on CK Films' upcoming feature film Offsides. ABOUT JOY: Joy Walsh is a Barbadian-American filmmaker and visual storyteller whose work spans award-winning short films, branded content, music videos, and photography. A graduate of CUNY Brooklyn's Film Production program, she continues to tell impactful stories across multiple mediums while championing collaboration and creative growth. Follow and support Joy's work: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/joywalsh.mov/] Upcoming Short Film [https://www.malixfilm.com/the-last-performance?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPOTM2NjE5NzQzMzkyNDU5AAGnm13_XtGLa5j_6oqhyyZEBUqIemCWwjmj1kjKvIB82RfS2EBdbwJ9uzF4Suo_aem_oP2Pwy-HhkUV7wu7rT_Afw] Learn more about Offsides here: https://ckproductionsnewyork.com/offsides [https://ckproductionsnewyork.com/offsides] What is CK Café? CK Café is a podcast and live conversation series by CK Productions spotlighting creators who are building their careers in film, music, theatre and beyond. Each episode explores the artist’s personal journey, the challenges they’ve faced, and the love behind their work. Whether through deep-dive interviews, behind-the-scenes breakdowns, or live panels, CK Café offers inspiration and real talk for artists and audiences alike. Follow CK's journey at https://instagram.com/ckproductionsny [https://instagram.com/ckproductionsny] and on Substack https://ckproductions.substack.com/ [https://ckproductions.substack.com/] Visit our website to learn more about CK at https://ckproductionsnewyork.com  [https://ckproductionsnewyork.com%20/] CK Café is Hosted by Rosie Dean (@RosieDean21 [https://instagram.com/rosiedean21]) and Ethan Felizzari-Castillo (@ethanfelizzari [https://instagram.com/ethanfelizzari]) and produced by produced by Anabella Barrios & CK Records (A CK Productions Co.). [https://instagram.com/ckrecordsny]

Directing, Producing & Inspiring the Next Generation with Nelson Isava

CK Café is back with all-new episodes for Season 2! For our latest conversation, we sit down with filmmaker, theatre artist, and educator Nelson Isava to discuss his journey from Venezuela to New York City and the path that led him to a life dedicated to storytelling. Nelson shares insights from his work as a producer, director, and creative leader across film and theatre, reflecting on the challenges and opportunities of building a career in the arts. We also explore his passion for education and empowering the next generation of artists through his work with students and emerging creatives. From creative inspiration to community building, this episode is a heartfelt conversation about perseverance, purpose, and the transformative power of the arts. Follow Nelson's journey and support his projects here [https://linktr.ee/nelsonisava]. Follow on Instagram here. [https://www.instagram.com/nelsonisava] What is CK Café? CK Café is a podcast and live conversation series by CK Productions spotlighting creators who are building their careers in film, music, theatre and beyond. Each episode explores the artist’s personal journey, the challenges they’ve faced, and the love behind their work. Whether through deep-dive interviews, behind-the-scenes breakdowns, or live panels, CK Café offers inspiration and real talk for artists and audiences alike. Follow CK's journey at https://instagram.com/ckproductionsny [https://instagram.com/ckproductionsny] and on Substack https://ckproductions.substack.com/ [https://ckproductions.substack.com/] Visit our website to learn more about CK at https://ckproductionsnewyork.com  [https://ckproductionsnewyork.com%20/] CK Café is Hosted by Rosie Dean (@RosieDean21 [https://instagram.com/rosiedean21]) and Ethan Felizzari-Castillo (@ethanfelizzari [https://instagram.com/ethanfelizzari]) and produced by produced by Anabella Barrios & CK Records (A CK Productions Co.). [https://instagram.com/ckrecordsny]

Crafting Theatre in a Changing Industry with Julia Segal

In this episode of CK Café, Ethan Felizzari-Castillo sits down with musical theatre composer and songwriter Julia Segal for a thoughtful conversation about creating in today’s theatre landscape. Julia opens up about her upcoming musical theatre work, her journey as a songwriter, social media and how she balances artistic integrity with the realities of commercial production. Together, they explore the evolving state of Broadway and indie theatre - what’s thriving, what’s struggling, and where emerging creators fit into the equation! From developing new work to navigating industry expectations, this episode is a candid look at what it means to build theatre in a changing creative economy. Follow Julia on Instagram to learn more! [https://www.instagram.com/julia_rose_segal/] What is CK Café? CK Café is a podcast and live conversation series by CK Productions spotlighting creators who are building their careers in film, music, theatre and beyond. Each episode explores the artist’s personal journey, the challenges they’ve faced, and the love behind their work. Whether through deep-dive interviews, behind-the-scenes breakdowns, or live panels, CK Café offers inspiration and real talk for artists and audiences alike. Follow CK's journey at https://instagram.com/ckproductionsny [https://instagram.com/ckproductionsny] and on Substack https://ckproductions.substack.com/ [https://ckproductions.substack.com/] Visit our website to learn more about CK at https://ckproductionsnewyork.com  [https://ckproductionsnewyork.com%20/] CK Café is Hosted by Rosie Dean (@RosieDean21 [https://instagram.com/rosiedean21]) and Ethan Felizzari-Castillo (@ethanfelizzari [https://instagram.com/ethanfelizzari]) and produced by produced by Anabella Barrios & CK Records (A CK Productions Co.). [https://instagram.com/ckrecordsny]