Reel Talk: An RFC Spotlight Speaker Series

E406 - Tom Abernathy on Walking the Talk in Game Culture

In this episode of Reel Talk, our host Akima A. Brown sits down with Tom Abernathy, a powerhouse storyteller whose career spans videogames, films, and theater. Known for his leadership as Narrative Lead at Crystal Dynamics and for shaping iconic titles like Halo: Reach, League of Legends, The Division, Guild Wars 2, and Destroy All Humans, Tom has spent more than two decades championing care, inclusivity, equity, and fairness in the creative process.  Tune in to this episode to learn more about Tom’s vision for storytelling that sustains creators as much as it captivates audiences and how this artist-turned-industry leader is reshaping the gaming industry for the better. Follow Tom Abernathy on his channels: LinkedIn: Tom-Abernathy [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-abernathy-2728a71/] Twitter: @TomAbernathy  [https://x.com/tomabernathy] BlueSky: @TomAbernathy [https://bsky.app/profile/tomabernathy.bsky.social] Follow Reel Talk on our channels: IG: ⁠@reelfamilies [https://www.instagram.com/reelfamilies] FB: ⁠@reelfamilies⁠ [https://facebook.com/reelfamilies] YT: ⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@reelfamiliesytv6351]@reelfamilies [https://www.youtube.com/@reelfamilies] LinkedIn: ⁠Reel Families for Change⁠ [https://linkedin.com/company/reelfamilies]

E405 - Tome Levi Goes Behind the Scenes with Safety on Set

In this episode of Reel Talk, our host Akima A. Brown sits down with Tome Levi, founder of the Injury Prevention Consultancy, and the pioneering role of Injury Prevention Consultant (IPC). With nearly a decade of experience across stage and screen, Tome created the IPC role after years of watching friends and colleagues sustain avoidable injuries in the name of performance. Her work is a call to shift from reactive problem-solving to proactive care — reframing injury prevention not as an obstacle to creativity, but as a necessary piece to realizing it. Tome dives into the philosophy behind what it means to slow down, design safety into the process, and challenge the cultural norms that normalize risk. Tune in to this episode to hear how one artist-turned-advocate is rewriting the rules of production culture and building a future where care is part of the creative process. Follow Tome Levi on her channels: Company Website: thisisipc.com [http://thisisipc.com]  Company LinkedIn: IPC [https://www.linkedin.com/company/injury-prevention-consultancy-ltd/] Tome’s LinkedIn: Tome Levi  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tome-levi/] Follow Reel Talk on our channels: IG: ⁠@reelfamilies [https://www.instagram.com/reelfamilies] FB: ⁠@reelfamilies⁠ [https://facebook.com/reelfamilies] YT: ⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@reelfamiliesytv6351]@reelfamilies [https://www.youtube.com/@reelfamilies] LinkedIn: ⁠Reel Families for Change⁠ [https://linkedin.com/company/reelfamilies]

E404 - Talking with "Horror Activist" Ariel Baska

On this episode of Reel Talk, we welcome Ariel Baska (they/them), filmmaker, advocate, and founder of ACCESS:HORROR and Ride the Omnibus. Ariel shares their journey toward creating more equitable, accessible storytelling in the entertainment industry, including their 4-2-4 production model and the making of their short film, Our First Priority, where a doctor is sent to hell for telling a patient their pain is all in their head. We dive into the challenges and opportunities in amplifying marginalized voices and explore how inclusive practices can transform both media and society. Tune in for insights, inspiration, and actionable ideas for a more just and creative screen industry. Follow Ariel's works across all channels: IG: ⁠@justaskabaska [https://www.instagram.com/⁠justaskabaska⁠] LinkedIn: ⁠Ariel Baska [https://www.linkedin.com/in/arielbaska/] Website - ⁠arielbaska.com [⁠arielbaska.com] Follow Reel Talk on our channels: IG: ⁠⁠@reelfamilies⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/reelfamilies] FB: ⁠⁠@reelfamilies⁠⁠ [https://facebook.com/reelfamilies] YT: ⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@reelfamiliesytv6351]⁠@reelfamilies⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@reelfamilies] LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Reel Families for Change⁠ [https://linkedin.com/company/reelfamilies]

E403 - Dr. Paul Heinzelmann on the Hidden Health Risks in Filmmaking

In this episode of Reel Talk, we have a conversation with Dr. Paul Heinzelmann, founder of SetMD — a company he launched in 2007 as Massachusetts' film tax credit brought more film and TV productions to the state. Dr. Paul tells our host, Akima A. Brown, how a chance connection to the film industry led to his mission to improve on-set health and safety for the crews that keep productions running. Drawing from his public health background, Dr. Paul identified troubling patterns among film industry workers — from long hours and untreated injuries to unsafe working conditions, especially among below-the-line crew members. Recognizing it as a system-wide issue, he opted for a solution that would have mass appeal and deep impact. The result: SAFE SETS: DYING TO WORK IN THE FILM INDUSTRY — a groundbreaking documentary, co-directed by Dr. Paul, that exposes the safety and health risks faced by workers on set and advocates for better practices and protections across the industry.  Tune in to this episode to hear the untold story of the risks film crews face, why they persist, and the changes needed to safeguard the people who bring stories to life.  Follow Dr. Paul Heinzelmann on his channels: IG: @safesetsmovie [https://www.instagram.com/safesetsmovie/?hl=en] FB: @SETMD [https://www.facebook.com/SetMD/]  Website - safesetsmovie.org  [https://www.safesetsmovie.org/] Follow Reel Talk on our channels: IG: ⁠@reelfamilies [https://www.instagram.com/reelfamilies] FB: ⁠@reelfamilies⁠ [https://facebook.com/reelfamilies] YT: ⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@reelfamiliesytv6351]@reelfamilies [https://www.youtube.com/@reelfamilies] LinkedIn: ⁠Reel Families for Change⁠ [https://linkedin.com/company/reelfamilies]

E402 - Ranell Shubert, ED of the new Disability Media Alliance, on disability, media, and resource

In this episode, we sit down with Ranell Shubert, advocate and founder of the Disability Media Alliance (DMA), to discuss her journey in advancing disability inclusion within the media industry. From her work at IDA to her leadership at DMA, Ranell shares insights on amplifying the voices of people with disabilities in storytelling, overcoming systemic barriers, and creating a more inclusive and accessible media landscape. Tune in to this thought-provoking conversation about the power of narrative and the critical changes needed to reshape the industry for disabled creators. Follow Ranell on her channels: Website: disabilitymedia.org [https://disabilitymedia.org] IG: @disabilitymedia [https://www.instagram.com/disabilitymedia/] LinkedIn: Disability Media Alliance [https://www.linkedin.com/company/disabilitymedia/] Follow Reel Families on our channels: IG: @reelfamilies [https://www.instagram.com/reelfamilies] LinkedIn: Reel Families for Change [https://linkedin.com/company/reelfamilies] FB: @reelfamilies [https://facebook.com/reelfamilies] YT: @reelfamilies [https://www.youtube.com/@reelfamilies]