Filmmaker Mixer

Costume designer Liz Vastola joins Filmmaker Mixer to take us behind the scenes of Best of the Best and reveal how costume design helps build character, establish the visual world of a film, and tell story without dialogue.
Liz discusses her creative process, research, fittings, collaboration with directors and other departments, continuity challenges, and the practical realities of designing costumes for an independent film. Filmmakers and film students will get an inside look at how professional costume decisions actually make it from script to screen.

Actress and writer Alli Brown joins Filmmaker Mixer to talk about NUKE, the dark comedy she wrote and stars in about a struggling comedian who exploits the fallout from a nuclear missile threat to get onto a coveted comedy showcase. Directed by Kelsea Bauman-Murphy, NUKE has screened at festivals including the Lower East Side Film Festival, Oak Cliff Film Festival, and Nót Film Festival in Italy.Alli breaks down what it takes to write a role for yourself, balance comedy with emotional truth, collaborate with a director, and build a short film that can connect with festival audiences. She also discusses her path from UCB sketch and character comedy to screen acting in projects including Succession and Sistas—and why creating your own material can be so important for working actors.

How do you bring iconic comic-book characters into the real world? On this episode of Filmmaker Mixer, we sit down with Cynthia Summers, the costume designer behind HBO’s Lanterns, to explore how she created the grounded visual identity of the series.
Cynthia takes us inside the creative process—from developing contemporary streetwear and distinct looks for John Stewart and Hal Jordan to using silhouette, texture, layering, and wear to reveal character. Filmmakers will learn how costume can become a storytelling tool long before a character says a word.

Director Cyrus Neshvad joins Filmmaker Mixer to discuss Child, his debut feature about a couple willing to cross every boundary to save their son. The psychological horror film premiered at the 2026 Raindance Film Festival, and Child has been selected to represent Luxembourg in the 2027 Oscar and Goya races.
Cyrus takes us behind the scenes of the filmmaking process—from creating suspense and psychological horror to directing performances, controlling what the audience sees, and making the transition from acclaimed short films to a feature. He also discusses lessons learned from The Red Suitcase, his Oscar-nominated short, and how those experiences shaped Child.

What does it really take to get an independent film distributed? In this episode of the Filmmaker Mixer Podcast, Richard Wolff of Breaking Glass Pictures shares how distributors evaluate films, the biggest mistakes filmmakers make, and what today's marketplace actually looks like.
We also discuss festivals, streaming platforms, AI, marketing, financing, and where independent film distribution is headed next. Whether you're producing your first feature or preparing your next festival submission, you'll come away with practical advice that can help your film reach its audience.