Catch A Break Podcast

The insider's guide to breaking into and navigating Hollywood.

EP 411: The Composer and the Sound Designer 07/25/2023

EP 411: The Composer and the Sound Designer This is the last episode in our Project Greenlight series where we talk to the cast and crew of Gray Matter and get the real behind the scenes of the behind the scenes. I hope you’ve enjoyed this series as much as we have. If you want even more, you can go to our website at for pictures and transcripts. We’re already working on season 5 and we have some very interesting episodes lined up for you, so be sure to subscribe so you won’t miss an episode. For this final episode, Julie Harris Oliver sat down with Jeff Pitts, the sound designer, and Haim Mazar the composer of Gray Matter. They talked about how the music and sound work together, how they differentiate and it is striking how amazing it is to talk to people who are able to put words to things that are actually very difficult to put into words. /episode/index/show/catchabreakpodcast/id/27089007

EP 410: The Post Production Process 07/24/2023

EP 410: The Post Production Process We are getting close to the end of our Project Greenlight series where we talk to the cast and crew of Gray Matter and get the real behind the scenes of the behind the scenes. We’re dropping new episodes every day, so if you want to start at the beginning, go back and start with episode 401. For this penultimate episode, Julie Harris Oliver sat down with Erica Djafroodi, the post supervisor, and Byron Wong, the editor. We talked about how this was different from other jobs they've done and how it was working with a director who is also an editor /episode/index/show/catchabreakpodcast/id/27088968

EP 409: The Production Sound Mixer and Video Assist Operator 07/21/2023

EP 409: The Production Sound Mixer and Video Assist Operator We are continuing our Project Greenlight series where we talk to the cast and crew of Gray Matter and get the real behind the scenes of the behind the scenes. We’re dropping new episodes every day, so if you want to start at the beginning, go back and start with episode 401. In this episode, Julie Harris Oliver sat down with Savanna Peters who is a video assist operator & Sara Glaser who is a production sound mixer. Both of these women are in very male dominated positions and departments and they share how they’ve navigated that, along with telling us all about the jobs and the challenges of filming a movie within a tv show. /episode/index/show/catchabreakpodcast/id/27088884

EP 408: The Costume Designer and Hair Stylist 07/20/2023

EP 408: The Costume Designer and Hair Stylist We are continuing our Project Greenlight series where we talk to the cast and crew of Gray Matter and get the real behind the scenes of the behind the scenes. We’re dropping new episodes every day, so if you want to start at the beginning, go back and start with episode 401. In this episode, Julie Harris Oliver sat down with Rhonda O'Neal, the hair stylist, and Rahimah Yoba the wardrobe designer. Let's just say, it’s a miracle they even took this job, considering the phone call from the UPM seemed very suspicious...but we’ll let them explain. /episode/index/show/catchabreakpodcast/id/27088842

EP 407: The Production Department 07/19/2023

EP 407: The Production Department We are continuing our Project Greenlight series where we talk to the cast and crew of Gray Matter and get the real behind the scenes of the behind the scenes. We’re dropping new episodes every day, so if you want to start at the beginning, go back and start with episode 401. In this episode, Julie Harris Oliver sat down with UPM Corey Sklov, Production Supervisor Miranda Pacheco and Assistant Production Office Coordinator (APOC) Fiona Widerman. There was a lot to unpack here, with logistics, night shoots, and contending with another production team on the other side of the wall. /episode/index/show/catchabreakpodcast/id/27088740

EP 406: The Cinematographer and the Gaffer 07/18/2023

EP 406: The Cinematographer and the Gaffer We are continuing our Project Greenlight series where we talk to the cast and crew of Gray Matter and get the real behind the scenes of the behind the scenes. We’re dropping new episodes every day, so if you want to start at the beginning, go back and start with episode 401. In this episode, Julie Harris Oliver sat down with cinematographer Andrew Jeric and Gaffer Matt Hadley. These guys are going to tell how they did so much with so little to work with, budget-wise. Basically, technology is your friend. /episode/index/show/catchabreakpodcast/id/26345223

EP 405: The Locations, Stunts and Transportation Departments 07/17/2023

EP 405: The Locations, Stunts and Transportation Departments We are continuing our Project Greenlight series where we talk to the cast and crew of Gray Matter and get the real behind the scenes of the behind the scenes. We’re dropping new episodes every day, so if you want to start at the beginning, go back and start with episode 401. In this episode, Julie Harris Oliver sat down with location manager Yvette Yurcisin, stunt coordinator Dee Bryant and then later, transportation coordinator Sandra Ninham. These jobs are way more stressful than you might think, and these roles are not typically held by women, but these women came through with flying colors /episode/index/show/catchabreakpodcast/id/27088521

EP 404: The Art Department 07/14/2023

EP 404: The Art Department We are continuing our Project Greenlight series where we talk to the cast and crew of Gray Matter and get the real behind the scenes of the behind the scenes. We’re dropping these pretty fast, so if you want to start at the beginning, go back and start with episode 401. In this episode Julie Harris Oliver sat down with Production Designer, Martina Buckley, Set Decorator, Vince Rodriquez, and Set Dresser, Joel Newton. We learn all about Martina’s philosophy of Method Art Department, along with all of their other budget indie adventures in the art department. /episode/index/show/catchabreakpodcast/id/26344623

EP 403: The Table Read 07/14/2023

EP 403: The Table Read This is a real quick bonus episode where you get an inside sneak peek on what really went on at the table read of Gray Matter, from the perspective of Meko Winbush, the director, and Jeanette Volturno and Yolanda T. Cochran, the producers. Let me tell you, it was not typical and not what they expected. /episode/index/show/catchabreakpodcast/id/27076290

EP 402: An Actor and Casting Director of Project Greenlight 07/13/2023

EP 402: An Actor and Casting Director of Project Greenlight We are continuing our Project Greenlight series where we talk to the cast and crew of Gray Matter, the film inside of Project Greenlight, and get the real behind the scenes of the behind the scenes. We’re dropping these pretty fast, so if you want to start at the beginning, go back and start with episode 401. For this episode, Julie Harris Oliver sat down with Jessica Frances Dukes who plays Ayla in the film and Seth Yanklewitz, the casting director. This was such a juicy conversation, full of great advice for actors, it will stick with you. You’re in for a treat. /episode/index/show/catchabreakpodcast/id/26340132

EP 401: The Director and Producers of Project Greenlight 07/13/2023

EP 401: The Director and Producers of Project Greenlight This season is going to be such a special treat. This is the Catch a Break - Project Greenlight season. Hopefully, as a listener of this show, you are also aware of the show, Project Greenlight, and if not, go watch it now on Max. Project Greenlight is a docu-follow show of the making of an independent film by an emerging director. Well, lucky us, one of our founders, Jeanette Volturno was a producer on this season of the film inside of Project Greenlight, called Gray Matter, along with her producing partner and new friend of Catch a Break, but old friend to all of us, Yolanda Cochran. This has given us a front row seat to the behind the scenes of the behind the scenes and all the things the show didn’t show. Very meta. These episodes are not directly tied to the series episodes so you can binge both in no particular order, and we just can’t be worried about any spoilers. It’s all out there. Listen at your own risk! For this opening episode, Julie Harris Oliver sat down with the Director of Gray Matter, name to be revealed, along with the Producers Jeanette Volturno and Yolanda Cochran. They talk about what it was like to work on this film with cameras in their faces, the challenges of making an indie film, and what they are most proud of through this process. /episode/index/show/catchabreakpodcast/id/26340096

Trailer for Catch a Break Season 4 07/10/2023

Trailer for Catch a Break Season 4 The new season of Catch a Break - Project Greenlight version drops July 13th! /episode/index/show/catchabreakpodcast/id/27424878

The Blackening: Dewayne Perkins 06/27/2023

The Blackening: Dewayne Perkins We have another interview for you from The Blackening - this time with writer, co-producer and star, Dewayne Perkins, who played the role of Dewayne in the movie. Dewayne Perkins is an Emmy-nominated American comedian, writer, producer and actor. Some of his other writing and producing credits include: NBC's Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Netflix's The Break with Michelle Wolf, Peacock's Saved By The Bell and the Amber Ruffin Show, to which he was nominated for an Emmy. As an actor he has appeared on Peacock's Saved By the Bell, Netflix's The Upshaws, as well as Lionsgate/MRC's The Blackening, a feature he wrote and co-produced that premiered at TIFF. We talked about the success of this film, the deeper revolution that it is, this moment in his life, and what is the secret sauce to success. /episode/index/show/catchabreakpodcast/id/27251472

The Blackening: Cast 06/23/2023

The Blackening: Cast To tide you over until the Project Greenlight season comes out, we have something so special for you right now. I got to speak with 4 of the cast members for the new film The Blackening. If you haven’t seen it yet, grab your friends and run, don’t walk and watch it in the theatre. I sat down with Grace Byers who plays Allison in the film and who you may know from Harlem and Empire, also Jermaine Fowler who plays Clifton, and you may know from Coming 2 America, and Judas and the Black Messiah, Also Melvin Gregg, who plays King, and previous was in Nine Perfect Strangers and The United States vs Billie Holiday and finally Antoinette Robertson who plays Lisa and who you may know from Dear White People and Diggstown. We talked about what a special experience it was making this movie and dug into all kinds of advice for actors pursuing this craft. Settle in and have a listen. /episode/index/show/catchabreakpodcast/id/27240786

Special Episode: Women's Production Society Part 2 Cristen Carr Strubbe and Jeanette Volturno 09/20/2022

Special Episode: Women's Production Society Part 2 Cristen Carr Strubbe and Jeanette Volturno This is part two in a series of interviews with the leadership of the Women’s Production Society. The WPS is an organization of physical production executives across the industry. It started as a small cocktail party and has since grown to more than 100 members and is a powerful force of change within the industry with the purpose to fulfill their mission statement: To promote the hiring of women in leadership roles in Film, Television and New Media. In the last episode, I talked with the group’s founding members Dana Belcastro and Debra Bergman. And today I am talking with Jeanette Volturno, producer and entrepreneur, and Cristen Carr Strubbe, producer turned physical production executive, who are the current leadership of the group. You can hear Jeanette’s origin story in episode 111 of The Other 50% podcast and Cristen is on episode 15. In this episode we talk about where the WPS is now, how they weathered the covid of it all the last couple of years, and what the plan to do going forward. /episode/index/show/catchabreakpodcast/id/24344793

Special Episode: Women's Production Society Part 1 Dana Belcastro and Debra Bergman 09/13/2022

Special Episode: Women's Production Society Part 1 Dana Belcastro and Debra Bergman We have a couple of really special interviews to share with you - both are with the leadership of the Women’s Production Society. The WPS is an organization of physical production executives across the industry. It started as a small cocktail party and has since grown to more than 100 members and is a powerful force of change within the industry with the purpose to fulfill their mission statement: To promote the hiring of women in leadership roles in Film, Television and New Media. This first interview is with the founding members Dana Belcastro and Debra Bergman. Both came up as producers and now both are executives. To get their full stories, we will refer you to episodes 108 and 109 of The Other 50% podcast where we do a deep dive into both of their herstories. In today’s episode they walk us through the origin of the Women’s Production Society and what they are looking to do next as they hand the reins over to the next leadership of the group. /episode/index/show/catchabreakpodcast/id/24344766

EP 312: BUT WHAT I REALLY WANT TO DO IS DIRECT! 11/23/2021

EP 312: BUT WHAT I REALLY WANT TO DO IS DIRECT! This is the episode where we dig into the age-old Hollywood cliché. Joining us in this episode is award-winning Director Anya Adams, filmmaker Avi Youabian, Writer, Director, and Costume Designer Kristin Burke. We learn from them what it really takes to transition into your dream job. Is that where you start? What should you do on your way to Directing? And most importantly, how do you make the leap? /episode/index/show/catchabreakpodcast/id/20187104

EP 311: THE SOUNDSCAPE 11/16/2021

EP 311: THE SOUNDSCAPE In this episode, we are introduced to Sound Mixer Allie Boettger, Sound Editor P.K. Hooker, and Composer Michael Abels. We talk about how sound recording on set is different from the composed score and how the editor brings it all together. /episode/index/show/catchabreakpodcast/id/20186684

EP 310: CARING FOR THE CREW 11/09/2021

EP 310: CARING FOR THE CREW Who takes care of everyone on set? On this episode we talk about what it means to care for the crew with Second Assistant Director, Alicia Lewis, Set Medic, Lisa Patton, film Caterer, Orlando Hurtado, and Key Craft Service person, Leah Amir. We hear about what drives them in this role, how they prepared for it, and the business opportunities that came along the way. /episode/index/show/catchabreakpodcast/id/20185712

EP 309: SEND IT TO THE LAB 11/02/2021

EP 309: SEND IT TO THE LAB How do the lab, color correction, VFX complete the look of the film? In this episode, we learn more about post-production and how it all comes together in the lab. With us is an award-winning Cinematographer, Toby Oliver, VP of Fotokem’s services division, Jose Parra, and Digital Imaging Technician Oliver Mancebo. /episode/index/show/catchabreakpodcast/id/20184389

EP 308: FIX IT IN POST! 10/26/2021

EP 308: FIX IT IN POST! What happens when the film leaves Production and heads to Post? In this episode, we learn about post-production and how a Post Supervisor, Editor, and Visual Effects Supervisor work together. We were introduced to independent post-production supervisor Renee Minasian, narrative features and TV editor Lucy Donaldson, and visual effects supervisor Dan Levitan. /episode/index/show/catchabreakpodcast/id/20184137

EP 307: WHERE DO THE PA’s AND COORDINATORS FIT INTO ALL THIS? 10/19/2021

EP 307: WHERE DO THE PA’s AND COORDINATORS FIT INTO ALL THIS? In this episode, Production Assistant, Giselle Vazquez, Production Coordinator, Brian Ayala, and Production Coordinator, Weston Manville, discuss how Production Assistants and Coordinators fit into the whole system, how they work together and with all the departments on set, and personal stories of how they started and where they want to go. /episode/index/show/catchabreakpodcast/id/20183807

EP 306: PUTTING THE BACKGROUND IN THE FOREGROUND 10/12/2021

EP 306: PUTTING THE BACKGROUND IN THE FOREGROUND In this episode, we discuss how Costume Supervisor, Gail Fitzgibbons, Assistant Director, Marc Newland, and Extras Casting Director, Dixie Webster, work together to create the magic you see on screen. /episode/index/show/catchabreakpodcast/id/20173376

EP 305: What are we shooting and how do we get there? 10/05/2021

EP 305: What are we shooting and how do we get there? Let’s discuss the logistics of shooting on location with Location Manager Alison Taylor and Transportation Coordinator Sandra Ninham-Gallardo. Together they discuss what their jobs entail and some of the challenges they may run into being women in their fields. /episode/index/show/catchabreakpodcast/id/20173088

EP 304: JUST WHAT DO THE GRIP AND GAFFER DO, ANYWAY? 09/28/2021

EP 304: JUST WHAT DO THE GRIP AND GAFFER DO, ANYWAY? In this episode we are joined by Lee Donaldson, a Key Grip, Nancy Schreiber, a Cinematographer, and Brant Beland, a Gaffer. We learn about all of their careers, pick their brains, and hear stories from some of the best people in the business. /episode/index/show/catchabreakpodcast/id/20160506

EP 303: PROPS AND SPECIAL EFFECTS 09/21/2021

EP 303: PROPS AND SPECIAL EFFECTS This episode is where we meet Emily Ferry, a property master, and Mark Byers, a special effects supervisor. We learn about their position, their go to kits, crews, budget, specialties in their field and so much more. /episode/index/show/catchabreakpodcast/id/20160161

EP 302: Establishing the Look 09/14/2021

EP 302: Establishing the Look Welcome to EP 302 of Catch A Break where we will meet Wynn Thomas, a production designer, Thomas Scott Stanton, a director of photography, and Virgina Johnson, a costume designer. In this episode we will learn about what each of their job entails, budgeting, diversity, inclusion in the industry, and their job’s relation to one another and other positions in their crews. /episode/index/show/catchabreakpodcast/id/20159351

EP 301: PRODUCERS - CREATIVE VS PRODUCTION 09/07/2021

EP 301: PRODUCERS - CREATIVE VS PRODUCTION This season is going to be all about how the different departments work together to make a film or a series. For example, how does the director work with the director of photography and art departments to set the look? How do props and special effects work together? How do grips and gaffers collaborate? We’ll get to all of these questions this season. But, as we always do, let’s start at the beginning. This episode is all about how a script transitions from development to production, from the perspectives of creative producers and a line producer. Joining us for this episode is Jeanette Volturno, Co-founder of Catch A Break and Catchlight Studios, Jessica Malanaphy, Co-founder of Catch A Break and Catchlight Studios, and Fanshen Cox, producer and development executive at Pearl Street Films. In this episode we will touch base on what their specific jobs entail, diversity in casting, the business and creative side of production, and different tips that will help when entering the industry. /episode/index/show/catchabreakpodcast/id/20157293

The Way Back: Part Five 11/25/2020

The Way Back: Part Five This is the final episode in The Way Back Series - how entertainment and production will navigate getting back to work while living with COVID-19. In this episode, we want to talk about how we will ensure we keep moving forward with diversity, inclusion and representation, and not lose any ground due to the recent work stoppage and the scarcity it created. To do this, we have assembled an amazing panel. We’ve asked the brilliantly talented women of the Sista Brunch Podcast, Fanshen Cox, co-host of Sista Brunch, Award-winning playwright, actor, producer & educator and co-author of the Inclusion Rider, and Christabel Nsiah-Buadi, Award-winning radio journalist, executive producer of Sista Brunch and writer for British Vogue and The Independent to take over the Catch A Break Podcast. Panelists include Kirsten Schaffer, Executive Director of Women In Film and one of the forces behind the WIF ReFrame initiative, Marcei Brown, co-creator of Crewvie, a global inclusion database, and one of the founders of the Catch A Break Podcast, Yolanda Cochran, SVP Live Action Production at ViacomCBS’ Nickelodeon & Awesomeness and member of the PGA One Guild Committee, and Kalpana Kotagal, Partner at Cohen Milstein and co-author of the Inclusion Rider. /episode/index/show/catchabreakpodcast/id/16958963

EP 209 INCENTIVES 07/07/2020

EP 209 INCENTIVES We often hear about incentives and how pivotal they are to making content. However, how often are the terms confusing or do we think people are speaking a different language? Our panelists will help translate what is the difference between rebates, refundable credits, transferable credits, and non-transferable credits? How can you monetize your state credit? What is a state credit? How do you choose which state to film in? What is a qualified spend? We will discuss all this and more in this week’s episode of Catch A Break. Please note, this episode was recorded pre-Coronavirus, so we aim to update everyone with any late changing information with our live Covid-19 episodes in the next few weeks. /episode/index/show/catchabreakpodcast/id/14445635

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