top of page
BONSAI-B-MARK.png

INDEPENDENT MEDIA & MARKETING

for filmmakers by filmmakers

INDIE INSIGHTS BLOG

Here is where you'll find our show notes, insights from our friends in film, and a variety of thoughts, ideas, and perspectives we've developed during our time in the film industry.


This and all other episodes of the MAKE IT podcast are brought to you in partnership with Women in Film and Television as part of the Voice of the Filmmaker Program.

Please help us keep the conversation going.

 

Bonsai Creative, MAKE IT Podcast, Voice of the Filmmaker, Denise Greene, Black Public Media

In this episode, we have a conversation with Producer and Director of Programming at Black Public Media, Denise Greene. We talk about her role at Black Public Media, BPM’s relationship with Netflix and Paramount, what makes for a winning pitch, the power, and reach of the 360 Incubator+, why she shuns social media, how she left the doctoral path to pursue Documentary filmmaking, and why she believes you shouldn’t go to film school.





 

About Denise Greene


Denise A. Greene is an Emmy and Peabody award-winner with producing and directing credits on a range of projects such a tribute video for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in honor of esteemed filmmaker, Charles Burnett, NY Times-Op Doc: When Music Turns Deadly (Orlando Bagwell, dir), Free Angela & All Political Prisoners (Shola Lynch, dir) and Pioneers of Thirteen, Blackside series, I’ll Make Me A World , and Blackside’s Malcolm X: Make it Plain.


Alongside her independent film projects, Denise joined Black Public Media (then known as NBPC) as the Director of the New Media Institute, an extensive program training professional filmmakers in the latest digital technologies. Preceding her documentary career, Denise started in children’s programming working in Casting and as a Senior Researcher for Sesame Street. Her most recent recognition in children’s programming includes a Parents’ Choice Award for her Nick Jr. Black History Month interstitial. Denise is thrilled to return to Black Public Media to direct funding and training initiatives such as 360 Incubator+.


Black Public Media supports the development of visionary content creators and distributes stories about the global Black experience to inspire a more equitable and inclusive future.


 

About the MAKE IT Podcast

The MAKE IT podcast is an audio platform for the Voice of the Filmmaker Program. We offer a variety of educational, aspirational, and entertaining content that promotes the success of creatives across the filmmaking community and the film industry. Our Filmmaker Conversations with industry professionals are dedicated to sharing the advice, knowledge, and insights of experienced filmmakers while exploring what it truly means to be an independent creative in the highly competitive world of filmmaking. Each filmmaker conversation is backed by thoughtful research that allows us to uncover the raw, authentic truths behind each filmmaker's journey. Through our Indie Talks, we share our thoughts and perspectives on navigating independent film from the perspective of Advisory and Executive Producers. We discuss topics that are relevant to filmmakers across a wide spectrum of filmmaking perspectives, and we do our best to uncover hidden truths and new developments in the film industry. Our goal is to help filmmakers avoid the pitfalls and obstacles on the business side of film so that their filmmaking creativity can thrive. Our Industry Insights provide bite-sized actionable advice that filmmaking professionals and creatives of all kinds can use to keep their heads up as they continue their filmmaking journeys. With advice sourced from the filmmaking community, we build upon the wisdom of our filmmaking guests to provide our audience with truly aspirational and inspirational content. The Mistakes in the Making series gives our filmmaking friends an opportunity to speak directly to our filmmaking audience to share a specific lesson they've learned through a mistake they've made. We are firm believers that mistakes can be the gateway to success when we open our hearts and minds to learning from them, sharing them, and using them to Be Better.


 

This and all other episodes of the MAKE IT podcast are brought to you in partnership with Women in Film and Television as part of the Voice of the Filmmaker Program.

Please help us keep the conversation going.

 

This and all other episodes of the MAKE IT podcast are brought to you in partnership with Women in Film and Television as part of the Voice of the Filmmaker Program. Please help us keep the conversation going.


MAKE IT Podcast, Ryan Hartsock, Mistakes in the Making, Bonsai Creative

In this edition of Mistakes In The Making, we hear from Producer Ryan Hartsock. Ryan walks us through his mistake of hubris through metaphor and humble confession.



"My ambition outran my realistic situation."


- Ryan Hartsock, Producer



 

About Ryan Hartsock


Ryan is an Executive Producer and CEO at Wild Creative, LLC. He is a producer, learner, mentor, adventurer, innovator, husband, father, and brother whose specialties include Live Action, Communication Design, Interactive/Experiential, Motion Graphics, and Animation.


 

Listener Reflections


  • Consider a situation when you went too far? Did you recognize your limitations before it was too late?

 

About the MAKE IT Podcast


The MAKE IT podcast is a platform for the voice of independent filmmaker. We offer a variety of educational, aspirational, and entertaining content that promotes the success of creatives across the filmmaking community and the film industry.

Our Filmmaker Conversations with filmmaking professionals are dedicated to sharing the advice, knowledge, and insights of experienced filmmakers while exploring what it truly means to be an independent creative in the highly competitive world of filmmaking. Each filmmaker conversation is backed by thoughtful research that allows us to uncover the raw, authentic truths behind each filmmaker's journey.

Through our Indie Talks, we share our thoughts and perspectives on navigating independent film from the perspective of Advisory and Executive Producers. We discuss topics that are relevant to filmmakers across a wide spectrum of filmmaking perspectives, and we do our best to uncover hidden truths and new developments in the film industry. Our goal is to help filmmakers avoid the pitfalls and obstacles on the business side of film so that their filmmaking creativity can thrive.

Our Industry Insights provide bite-sized actionable advice that filmmaking professionals and creatives of all kinds can use to keep their heads up as they continue their filmmaking journeys. With advice sourced from the filmmaking community, we build upon the wisdom of our filmmaking guests to provide our audience with truly aspirational and inspirational content.

The Mistakes in the Making series gives our filmmaking friends an opportunity to speak directly to our filmmaking audience to share a specific lesson they've learned through a mistake they've made. We are firm believers that mistakes can be the gateway to success when we open our hearts and minds to learning from them, sharing them, and using them to Be Better.

The Film Investment series is a conversational series of 52 episodes geared towards the would-be film investor. Each episode, facilitated via a friendly conversation between hosts and friends Christopher Barkley and Jason McConnell, highlights a unique aspect of the film investment process. In addition to being a great resource for film investors, it serves as a reference for filmmakers regarding the many considerations that must be made when seeking film investment.


 

This and all other episodes of the MAKE IT podcast are brought to you in partnership with Women in Film and Television as part of the Voice of the Filmmaker Program. Please help us keep the conversation going.



This and all other episodes of the MAKE IT podcast are brought to you in partnership with Women in Film and Television as part of the Voice of the Filmmaker Program. Please help us keep the conversation going.


In this edition of Indie Talk, Chris and Nick talk about their recent experiences at the theater, the surprise at the end of the new Thor movie, Winnie The Pooh (and other well-known characters) becoming fair use, the ‘Blood & Honey’ trailer and why it works so well, social media branding choices, and what Netflix can do to get back to their dominant ways.






 



 

About the MAKE IT Podcast


The MAKE IT podcast is a platform for the voice of independent filmmaker. We offer a variety of educational, aspirational, and entertaining content that promotes the success of creatives across the filmmaking community and the film industry.

Our Filmmaker Conversations with filmmaking professionals are dedicated to sharing the advice, knowledge, and insights of experienced filmmakers while exploring what it truly means to be an independent creative in the highly competitive world of filmmaking. Each filmmaker conversation is backed by thoughtful research that allows us to uncover the raw, authentic truths behind each filmmaker's journey.

Through our Indie Talks, we share our thoughts and perspectives on navigating independent film from the perspective of Advisory and Executive Producers. We discuss topics that are relevant to filmmakers across a wide spectrum of filmmaking perspectives, and we do our best to uncover hidden truths and new developments in the film industry. Our goal is to help filmmakers avoid the pitfalls and obstacles on the business side of film so that their filmmaking creativity can thrive.

Our Industry Insights provide bite-sized actionable advice that filmmaking professionals and creatives of all kinds can use to keep their heads up as they continue their filmmaking journeys. With advice sourced from the filmmaking community, we build upon the wisdom of our filmmaking guests to provide our audience with truly aspirational and inspirational content.

The Mistakes in the Making series gives our filmmaking friends an opportunity to speak directly to our filmmaking audience to share a specific lesson they've learned through a mistake they've made. We are firm believers that mistakes can be the gateway to success when we open our hearts and minds to learning from them, sharing them, and using them to Be Better.

The Film Investment series is a conversational series of 52 episodes geared towards the would-be film investor. Each episode, facilitated via a friendly conversation between hosts and friends Christopher Barkley and Jason McConnell, highlights a unique aspect of the film investment process. In addition to being a great resource for film investors, it serves as a reference for filmmakers regarding the many considerations that must be made when seeking film investment.


 

This and all other episodes of the MAKE IT podcast are brought to you in partnership with Women in Film and Television as part of the Voice of the Filmmaker Program. Please help us keep the conversation going.


bottom of page