Best in Fest

What does it take to spend years working beside some of Hollywood’s top directors—and finally decide it’s time to tell your own story?
In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with writer-director Brenda Wachtl and Romanian-born actress Maria Bata to discuss their new short film, In the Deep, as well as directing, acting, career reinvention, film festivals, and the persistence required to build a career in Hollywood.
Before stepping into the director’s chair, Brenda built an extensive career as a script supervisor, working on major films including I Am Sam, October Sky, and Collateral. She describes those years beside accomplished directors as an ongoing filmmaking “masterclass”—one that taught her the importance of preparation while still leaving room for the unexpected magic that can happen on set. 
Maria’s path was equally unconventional. Born and raised in Transylvania, Romania, she initially earned a business degree before pursuing acting. After working in modeling and commercials, she attended performing arts school and eventually landed a lead role in a Romanian film that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2015. But Maria reveals an important reality aspiring actors and filmmakers rarely hear: even a Sundance premiere didn’t magically transform her career. She still had to return to auditioning, networking, and doing the work.  
Together, Brenda and Maria take us behind the scenes of In the Deep, a deeply personal story about a woman whose seemingly perfect life is shattered when her fiancé suddenly disappears. Brenda explains why she wanted to tell a subtle, emotionally complex story centered on an adult woman—and why she deliberately resisted the heightened emotional reactions audiences often expect from stories about betrayal.  
In This Episode:
 How Brenda went from script supervisor to film director
 Lessons learned working alongside major Hollywood directors 
 Why great directors prepare meticulously—but remain open to unexpected moments 
 How to build trust between an actor and director 
 Maria’s journey from Romania to Hollywood
 What really happened after Maria’s film premiered at Sundance 
 Why film festival success doesn’t automatically create a Hollywood career 
 The casting process behind In the Deep
 How method acting helped Maria access the film’s emotional complexity 
 Directing subtle performances instead of relying on melodrama 
 Shooting an independent short film during the limited “magic hour” 
 Why filmmakers should consider shorts as proof-of-concept films
 Reinventing yourself and pursuing a second career in entertainment 
 Why rejection is simply part of building a filmmaking career 
Brenda also reveals that In the Deep was conceived as more than a short film. Her original intention was to create something “smart and cinematic and engaging” that could demonstrate what she could do as a director while allowing audiences and potential collaborators to imagine a larger story. She is now developing the project into a feature film. 
And when it comes to surviving the inevitable rejection of Hollywood, Brenda leaves emerging filmmakers with a message worth remembering:
Keep going—because eventually, 900 no’s can turn into one yes. 
Whether you’re an actor, director, screenwriter, film student, independent filmmaker, or someone considering a creative career change, this episode is a candid look at what it really takes to keep creating, keep auditioning, and keep moving forward.
Subscribe to Best in Fest for more conversations with filmmakers, actors, writers, producers, festival creators, and entertainment professionals from around the world.

Welcome to Best in Fest, where host Leslie LaPage sits down with Abby Savell, owner of LA Percussion Rentals & Recording, one of Hollywood's most unique resources for film composers, music supervisors, and sound designers. From blockbuster films to independent productions, Abby's collection of rare percussion instruments helps create the unforgettable sounds audiences hear in their favorite movies. 
In this fascinating conversation, Abby shares how she and her late husband built LA Percussion from a small instrument rental business into one of the industry's premier destinations for composers seeking distinctive sounds. She explains why percussion is one of the most powerful storytelling tools in cinema and how a single instrument can completely transform the emotional impact of a scene. 
The discussion also explores legendary percussionist Emil Richards, whose groundbreaking work introduced exotic percussion into Hollywood film scores, forever changing the sound of modern cinema. Abby explains how his influence continues to inspire composers today and how LA Percussion is helping carry that legacy forward by giving filmmakers access to hundreds of unique instruments and on-site recording opportunities. 
In this episode:
 How film composers create memorable movie soundtracks 
 The role of percussion in cinematic storytelling 
 The Hollywood legend who changed film music forever 
 Why rare instruments create unforgettable movie moments 
 How independent filmmakers can achieve blockbuster-quality sound 
 Recording custom percussion for films, television, and games 
 Behind-the-scenes stories from productions including The Office, Super Bowl commercials, and major feature films 
 How Abby transformed personal tragedy into a bold new business direction 
 Why collaboration between composers and musicians leads to better storytelling 
 How acoustic instruments continue to thrive in an AI and digital music world 
 Advice for filmmakers looking to elevate their sound design on any budget 
Whether you're a filmmaker, composer, producer, editor, sound designer, or simply fascinated by the craft behind movie magic, this episode offers a rare look inside one of Hollywood's most specialized creative industries.
Subscribe to Best in Fest for more conversations with filmmakers, composers, producers, actors, festival founders, and entertainment professionals shaping the future of film.

Can artificial intelligence give us the perfect relationship—or does perfection come at the cost of real human connection?
In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with writer, director, producer, and bestselling author Lisa Steadman to discuss modern relationships, romantic storytelling, artificial intelligence, and her new festival short film, Tainted Love.
A graduate of the USC screenwriting program, Lisa has built a wide-ranging creative career spanning film, television, publishing, branding, and digital media. She shares how she went from working in film production to helping build the Barbie Collector brand at Mattel, launching an influential breakup blog, and becoming the bestselling author of It’s a Breakup, Not a Breakdown.
Lisa also opens up about how her own relationships shaped her writing, why she initially resisted writing romantic comedies, and how she learned to balance the fantasy of romance with the emotional truth of real-life relationships.
In this episode:
Lisa Steadman’s journey from USC Film School to professional screenwriting
What film school does—and does not—prepare writers for
How she helped build Mattel’s Barbie Collector brand
Why she refused to sign away ownership of her creative ideas
Turning a painful breakup into a successful blog and book career
How personal relationships influence screenwriting
Why romantic comedies need both fantasy and emotional truth
The creative process behind Tainted Love
Why people may choose AI companions over human relationships
What artificial intelligence cannot replace about real love
How AI could change screenwriting and independent filmmaking
The risks and opportunities AI creates for writers
Why filmmakers should stop waiting for permission and create their own work
The importance of collaboration in independent film
Lisa’s dream of bringing her television series Lauren of Arabia to the screen
In Tainted Love, Lisa imagines a near future where AI companions look and behave like real people. During a neighborhood dinner party, a sudden blackout exposes who is human—and who is not—forcing the characters to confront the emotional consequences of choosing artificial perfection over genuine connection.
The conversation also explores Lisa’s nuanced view of AI in Hollywood. She uses it as a creative assistant and believes it could help independent filmmakers reduce costs and green-light their own projects, but she remains concerned about protecting the heart, humanity, and creative livelihoods that only people can provide.
Whether you are a screenwriter, filmmaker, author, romantic-comedy fan, or simply curious about the future of love and technology, this episode offers an entertaining and thought-provoking look at relationships in the age of artificial intelligence.
Subscribe to Best in Fest for more conversations with filmmakers, writers, actors, producers, and entertainment professionals shaping the future of storytelling.

What does it take to leave a successful career behind, move to Hollywood, and start building your dream all over again?
In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with Ukrainian actress, model, dancer, songwriter, and television host  Liliia Halushko to discuss her journey from a small village in Ukraine to the international entertainment industry—and her latest suspense short film, The Impression.
Liliya opens up about being bullied and deeply insecure as a child, finding confidence through dance, modeling, television, and performance, and eventually moving to the United States to pursue acting at a higher level. She explains why acting requires the same discipline as an elite sport and why talent alone is never enough without constant training and preparation.
The conversation also explores her award-winning modeling career, her work as a television host and recording artist, and the personal experiences that inspired her to connect so deeply with The Impression.
In this episode:
How Liliya went from a small Ukrainian village to the entertainment industry
Overcoming bullying, insecurity, and self-doubt
Her experience studying television, cinema, and performance in Kyiv
How modeling and international competitions helped build her confidence
Why acting should be treated like daily athletic training
The challenges of moving to Hollywood and rebuilding a career
What she learned from working in television, music, dance, and modeling
How her Ukrainian identity influences her creative work
The story behind the suspense short film The Impression
Why first impressions can be dangerously misleading
How trust, fear, and ordinary moments can completely change a life
Preparing emotionally for a dramatic role
Working with director Luke LaFontaine and a young child actor
Her advice for performers trying to break into the entertainment industry
Why persistence and preparation create unexpected opportunities
In The Impression, Liliya plays a young immigrant mother who cannot find childcare before work and is forced to bring her son along on a train ride. A seemingly ordinary encounter with a stranger soon changes all of their lives, revealing how danger often arrives without warning—and sometimes behind a friendly smile.
Liliya also speaks candidly about leaving family members behind in Ukraine, the emotional impact of war, and why she believes she can help her country by continuing to build her voice and career in the United States.
Whether you are an aspiring actor, immigrant artist, filmmaker, model, or anyone working to overcome fear and pursue an ambitious dream, this episode offers an inspiring conversation about resilience, discipline, identity, and the courage to keep moving forward.
Subscribe to Best in Fest for more conversations with actors, filmmakers, producers, writers, festival creators, and entertainment professionals from around the world.

What happens when animal cruelty becomes profitable content?
In this powerful episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage speaks with journalist and animal advocate Nina Jackel and documentary filmmaker Kirk Murray about exposing animal abuse, confronting powerful technology companies, and using filmmaking as a catalyst for change.
Nina is the founder of Lady Freethinker, a nonprofit media organization dedicated to exposing and preventing animal suffering around the world. After repeatedly discovering graphic animal-abuse videos on YouTube, she took the extraordinary step of challenging the platform and demanding greater accountability for the content generating views, engagement, and advertising revenue.
Although the resulting lawsuit did not prevail in court, the campaign attracted widespread public attention and helped pressure YouTube to remove some of its most disturbing animal-torture content.
Nina and Kirk also take listeners behind the scenes of their documentaries We Are Animals and Cruelty for Clicks, which investigate the many ways animals are exploited for entertainment, profit, donations, and social-media engagement.
In this episode:
How Lady Freethinker grew from an advocacy blog into a global animal-protection organization
Why Nina Jackel decided to challenge YouTube over animal-abuse videos
How Section 230 protects social-media platforms from liability for user-generated content
Why losing a lawsuit can still create meaningful public change
The disturbing rise of staged animal-rescue videos
How fake shelters and rescue scams manipulate donors
Why some creators deliberately place animals in danger before filming a “rescue”
The hidden suffering behind exotic pets and viral animal videos
How documentary filmmakers investigate difficult and emotionally challenging subjects
The importance of veterinarians, researchers, and experts in revealing cruelty that viewers may not recognize
How filmmakers balance graphic subject matter with compelling storytelling
Why social-media companies must take greater responsibility for harmful content
How audiences can recognize suspicious animal videos and avoid supporting exploitation
From puppies deliberately placed in danger to wild animals treated as props, Cruelty for Clicks reveals how online attention can fuel a disturbing global industry. The conversation also examines less obvious forms of exploitation, including pet monkeys, exotic cats, wildlife content, factory farming, and misleading labels that allow cruelty to remain hidden from consumers.
This episode is an essential listen for documentary filmmakers, animal advocates, journalists, nonprofit leaders, social-media users, and anyone concerned about the ethical responsibilities of major technology platforms.
Subscribe to Best in Fest for more conversations with filmmakers, activists, producers, writers, and creative leaders using storytelling to expose injustice and inspire change.