Helen Shang (Welcome to Derry, Rings of Power, Avatar: The Last Airbender)

The Rise of the Indie Filmmaker

Welcome to The Hollywood Hang! A podcast about the highs, lows, and hell nos of this crazy industry. Hosted by Nicolas Curcio & Kristen Tepper. Social & Promotion by Rodrigo Caraveo. This week, we’re talking about the rise of indie filmmakers and why more of them are skipping studios and taking their movies straight to theaters. Has indie film entered a new era? We get into recent industry disruptors like Iron Lung and Hundreds of Beavers, and talk about what grassroots marketing and online audiences can actually do for independent films today. We also dive into Nic’s experience writing on GOAT, why studios like Marvel often look for fresh voices, the struggle of figuring out what to write next, and the five movies that shaped us. If you’re curious about where the film industry is headed right now, you won’t want to miss this hang! Listen now on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Zachary Donohue (Passenger, The Den)

Welcome to The Hollywood Hang! A podcast about the highs, lows, and hell nos of this crazy industry. Hosted by Nicolas Curcio & Kristen Tepper. Social & Promotion by Rodrigo Caraveo. This week we are joined by screenwriter Zachary Donohue, whose film Passenger is in theaters now! We get into how Zachary went from a lifelong horror fan to crafting one of the most exciting road horror films we have seen in years. The real life inspiration behind the concept, the lore, and why you will never look at a Saint Christopher medallion the same way again. We also talk about the horror renaissance happening right now and why the genre is the lifeline keeping movie theaters alive. If you are a writer trying to break in, this one is for you. Zachary breaks down how to build a hook, pitch your idea, and turn a setback into your biggest opportunity yet. You won't want to miss this hang. And seriously, go see Passenger in theaters now. Listen now on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Haley Nicole Johnson (Obsession)

Welcome to The Hollywood Hang! A podcast about the highs, lows, and hell nos of this crazy industry. Hosted by Nicolas Curcio & Kristen Tepper. Social & Promotion by Rodrigo Caraveo. This week, we are joined by producer and director Haley Nicole Johnson, whose film Obsession is now in theaters! We get into how Haley went from competitive dancer to one of indie film’s most exciting emerging producers. But don’t worry, Haley didn’t need a One Wish Willow to make her Hollywood dreams come true. She’s just that good. We also talk about her next project, 4x4: The Event, which is set to be distributed by Neon, what it actually takes to crew a debut feature the right way, and why waiting for $3 to $5 million might be killing your career before it even starts. If you want to know what building a career in independent film actually looks like right now, you won’t want to miss this hang! And you definitely don’t want to miss Obsession! Listen now on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Mackenzie Barmen (Sixty Somethings & Future Oscar Winning Actress)

Welcome to The Hollywood Hang! A podcast about the highs, lows, and hell nos of this crazy industry. Hosted by Nicolas Curcio & Kristen Tepper. Social & Promotion by Rodrigo Caraveo. This week we're joined by TikTok legend Mackenzie Barmen. You might know her from the videos that took over your FYP! Mackenzie is also a SAG-AFTRA/AEA actor, director, and producer based in NYC. In this episode, Mackenzie sits down with us to talk about her journey, what makes storytelling light her up, how she pivoted from viral fame to a full creative career, and oh yeah how Sarah Snook slid into her DMs! You won't want to miss this hang!

We're Back! (Season 2 of The Hollywood Hang)

Welcome to The Hollywood Hang! A podcast about the highs, lows, and hell nos of this crazy industry. Hosted by Nicolas Curcio & Kristen Tepper. Social and Promotion by Rodrigo Caraveo. We’re back! Season 2 kicks off by catching up on everything Nic and Tepper have been up to since the last time we hung out. From being on set, to Nic’s wedding, to Tepper’s writing journey, and everything in between. We talk growth, setbacks, new opportunities, and what it means to keep going in an industry that doesn’t always make it easy. Whether you’ve been following along or are just jumping in, this is the perfect place to start. New season means new highs, lows, and hell nos. Let’s get into it!