Best in Fest

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.

How do you create movies that entertain audiences, attract major talent, and still make a meaningful impact on the world?
In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with producer and One Community Head of Content Ameet Shukla for an in-depth conversation about social impact filmmaking, independent film production, finding powerful scripts, and building a sustainable career in Hollywood.
Ameet discusses the creative strategy behind films including Netflix’s Nonnas, the politically charged dark comedy Winner, and the acclaimed true-story drama Freeheld. He explains why socially relevant movies cannot simply preach to audiences—they must first be entertaining, emotionally engaging, and driven by unforgettable characters.
The conversation explores how producers identify a distinctive voice in a screenplay, balance artistic integrity with financing realities, and turn important social issues into stories audiences genuinely want to watch.
In this episode:
How Winner turned a politically divisive true story into a heartfelt comedy
Why complex characters are essential to impactful storytelling
What producers look for when reading a screenplay
How Freeheld transformed a real-life fight for equality into a major feature film
Why Netflix’s Nonnas connects through food, family, caregiving, and community
How to include social impact themes without overwhelming the entertainment
The current challenges facing independent film financing
Why mid-budget movies are becoming harder to produce
How tax incentives influence where films are shot
What the Head of Content at a production company actually does
How producers choose writers, directors, editors, and creative collaborators
What One Community looks for in new film and television projects
Why filmmakers should plan beyond their first movie
How technology has made filmmaking more accessible
The importance of building a long-term creative career rather than chasing one breakthrough
Ameet also shares practical advice for filmmakers, writers, and producers trying to get noticed. His central message is simple: keep creating, develop a recognizable voice, think strategically about your second and third projects, and make work that proves what you can do.
Whether you are an aspiring producer, screenwriter, director, film student, or independent filmmaker, this episode offers an honest and valuable look at how meaningful stories move from the page to the screen.
Subscribe to Best in Fest for more conversations with award-winning filmmakers, producers, actors, screenwriters, festival leaders, and entertainment industry professionals.

What does it really take to build a lasting career in Hollywood?
In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage, founder of the La Femme International Film Festival, sits down with Academy Award-nominated writer, director, and producer Jonathan Heap for an in-depth conversation about storytelling, directing, editing, working with legendary actors, and surviving decades in the film industry.
Jonathan shares the incredible story behind his Oscar-nominated short film 12:01 PM, the time-loop classic that helped inspire an entire generation of films, including the popularity of stories built around repeating timelines. He explains how the short evolved into a feature film, what he learned working with Donald Sutherland, Amy Irving, and Rob Lowe, and why trusting your instincts remains the most valuable tool a filmmaker can develop.
The conversation also explores the realities of today's entertainment industry—from proof-of-concept short films and independent financing to directing actors, editing, test screenings, studio notes, and why great storytelling always starts with the script. Jonathan also discusses his latest festival short, Ghosts of '45, and his nonprofit work using film to create social impact.
Whether you're an aspiring filmmaker, director, screenwriter, producer, film student, or simply love hearing behind-the-scenes stories from Hollywood professionals, this episode is packed with practical advice and decades of filmmaking wisdom.
In this episode:
• The story behind the Oscar-nominated short film 12:01 PM
• How an Academy Award nomination changed Jonathan Heap's career
• Directing Donald Sutherland, Amy Irving, Eric Roberts, and Rob Lowe
• The secrets to getting authentic performances from actors
• Why rehearsal is one of a director's greatest tools
• How editing completely transforms a film
• Using audience screenings to improve your movie
• Turning a short film into a feature-length project
• Why proof-of-concept films still matter
• The current state of independent filmmaking and Hollywood
• Advice every first-time filmmaker should hear
• Why great films begin with great scripts