Start / The MAKE IT Podcast / 410 dominic hoffman a guide to artistic survival keys to developing discipline as a creative and an actors perspective on hollywoods hidden challenges

410 - Dominic Hoffman - A Guide to Artistic Survival, Keys to Developing Discipline as a Creative, and An Actor's Perspective on Hollywood's Hidden Challenges

136 min • 16 maj 2025

This episode is brought to you by Factor Meals. Eating well has never been this easy: just heat up and enjoy, giving you more time to do what you want. Get started at https://factormeals.com/makeit50off and use code MAKEIT50OFF to get 50% off plus FREE shipping on your first box. Enjoy!

Hello, Hello!

In this episode, we welcome multi-talented artist Dominic Hoffman, who shares his remarkable journey through acting, writing, directing, and audiobook narration. Hoffman opens up about his experiences in the entertainment industry, from his early days on "Different World" to his recent projects and upcoming book "Late Rehearsals". The conversation spans topics ranging from code-switching and artistic discipline to the nuances of success in creative fields.

We also talk about:

• The challenges of being an actor and maintaining artistic integrity

• Navigating racial dynamics in the entertainment industry

• The importance of discipline and continuous improvement in one's craft

• Personal experiences with code-switching and cultural identity

• The evolving landscape of storytelling across different mediums

Products, software, websites, people, or places mentioned:

Factor Meals

Cotton Bureau

The MAKE IT Podcast Bookstore

MAKE IT Link-In-Bio @ Beacons.ai

Hangin' with Mr. Cooper

Late Rehearsals (Dominic Hoffman's book)

James (by Percival Everett)

Dante's Inferno

Audible Awards

Audio File Earphone Awards

Venice, California

UC Santa Cruz

We are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters.

So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating, or giving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT

All Links: https://beacons.ai/themakeitpodcast

Subscribe to our newsletter at www.bonsai.film/subscribe

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-make-it-podcast/exclusive-content

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Senaste avsnitt

#09 - SUMMARIES | Vanzil Burke: The Blueprint for Discovering and Nurturing Talent

18 juli | 29 min

414 - AI vs. Human Creativity and The Death of the Male Movie Star - Indie Talk #97

11 juli | 102 min

413 - Greta Quispe - Keys To Being Cast in American Fiction, Matlock, and Tyler Perry's Next Big Thing

27 juni | 103 min

#08 - SUMMARIES | Paula Landry: The Future of Film Distribution and Unconventional Paths in Filmmaking

20 juni | 15 min

412 - Will Parrinello & Majo Calderon - Water for Life: Documenting Hope in a Changing World

13 juni | 137 min

410 - Dominic Hoffman - A Guide to Artistic Survival, Keys to Developing Discipline as a Creative, and An Actor's Perspective on Hollywood's Hidden Challenges

Senaste avsnitt

#09 - SUMMARIES | Vanzil Burke: The Blueprint for Discovering and Nurturing Talent

414 - AI vs. Human Creativity and The Death of the Male Movie Star - Indie Talk #97

413 - Greta Quispe - Keys To Being Cast in American Fiction, Matlock, and Tyler Perry's Next Big Thing

#08 - SUMMARIES | Paula Landry: The Future of Film Distribution and Unconventional Paths in Filmmaking

412 - Will Parrinello & Majo Calderon - Water for Life: Documenting Hope in a Changing World

411 - Emma Tonner, Co-Founder of Galatea on How AI and Tech Are Rewriting the Creative Playbook, The $10 Billion Revolution in Digital Content, and Turning Readers into Bestselling Authors in 3.5 Years

410 - Dominic Hoffman - A Guide to Artistic Survival, Keys to Developing Discipline as a Creative, and An Actor's Perspective on Hollywood's Hidden Challenges

#07 - SUMMARIES | Emil Gallardo: From Tech to Film: Immigrant Stories, Universal Truths and Navigating Filmmaking

409 - Brad Starks - Producer of Hawaiian TV Series Moku Moku on Hawaii's Indie Film Scene and How to Build a Sustainable Creative Career

#06 - SUMMARIES | Jeff Clanagan: AI, Writers, and the Future of Storytelling in Hollywood

408 - “Just Friends” and “Brain Games” creator Adam “Tex” Davis on Mastering Podcasts, Pitches, and Storytelling

407 - “PERSONA” Actress & Producer Shanti Lowry on Race, Art, and Authenticity, Making Movies on Your Own Terms, and Connecting Hollywood's Hidden Threads

#05 - SUMMARIES | Sophie Holland: Inside the Casting Director's Playbook

406 - "Selling Superman" Director Adam Schomer on Meditation, Documentaries, Inner Power, and Legal Strategies for Documentary Filmmakers

405 - Indie Talk - The Art of Giving (and Receiving) Killer Screenplay Notes, Balancing Meritocracy and Opportunity in Filmmaking, and Tracing the Evolution of Black Representation in Media

#04 SUMMARIES | Christian Gregory: The Gregory Legacy: Honoring a Trailblazer's Impact on Health, Activism, and Entertainment

404 - Emmy Award-Winning Director Fr3deR1ck Taylor on Race in Film & The Plight of the Intellectual Black Male

403 - Author Jim Fredrick on His New Book "Opening Weekend,” An Insider's Look at the Challenges of Movie Marketing, and Cracking the Code of Successful Film Campaigns

402 - Filmmaker and Educator Mariah Kramer - Unlocking the Secrets of Student Filmmaking, Essentials of Filmmaking, Festivals, Funding, and the Future of Documentary

Mistakes In The Making with Jon Fitzgerald - When Casting Friends Goes Wrong

401 - Founder of Entertainment Business School Kaia Alexander - Working with Garry Shandling, What Development Execs Buy, Building Your Filmmaking "Wolf Pack" and the Art of Pitching

#03 - SUMMARIES | Scilla Andreen: Building a Tribe in the Film Industry, Creating Impactful Social Issue Films and Forging a Mission-Driven Career

400 - “Plan B” Director Brandon Tamburri on Directing Your First Feature, How to Assemble an All-Star Indie Film Cast, and his new podcast “Joke Zero"

Mistakes in the Making - Zair Montes - Funding Woes, Resilience and Navigating Contractual and Casting Pitfalls

#02 - SUMMARIES | Jennifer Cooney: Radical Honesty, Exploring the Duality of the Human Experience, and Building a Collaborative Creative Team Rooted in Mutual Respect

399 - Best of MAKE IT 2024 - Holiday Season Special

Mistakes in the Making - Natalie Ruffino Wilson - Trusting Your Instincts, Setting Boundaries, and Protecting Your Work

398 - Rich Hull - Producer, Filmmaker - Navigating the Chaos of Documentary Filmmaking, Keys to Unlocking Opportunities in Filmmaking, Agile Filmmaking and Adapting the Tech Mindset to Documentary Production and Spotlighting Combat Chaplains

Mistakes In the Making - Kyler Wilson, Director & Writer - Don't Work Without a Contract

#01 - SUMMARIES | Lexie Mosby: Purity Culture, Revelatory Filmmaking, and Exploring the Complexities of Character and Consent

397 - Phaith Montoya - Influencer Stardom, Overcoming Rejection, Building Community, Toxic Social Media Criticism, Plus-Size Fashion, Redefining Representation in Media | Indie Talk Takeover

396 - Director Coke Daniels - Why Filming “The Waterboyz” was Challenging, His Journey from Hip-Hop to Indie Filmmaking, Code-Switching, Authenticity, and the Responsibility of Representation, and Embracing AI in Filmmaking | Indie Talk Takeover

395 - Actress Katherine Ro - An Insider Look at The Terminal List Prequel, How to Succeed in Hollywood While Prioritizing Family, Stunt Performing, Mastering Voice Acting, How to Impress Gatekeepers | Indie Talk Takeover

394 - Aaron Irons & Josh Croft on Making 'Jeffrey’s Hell,' the Unique World of the Defy Film Festival, Appalachian Horror, Mastering Found Footage, How Tubi is Empowering Independent Filmmakers, The Art of Low-Budget Filmmaking, The Keys to Sustainable Indie Film Success | Indie Talk Takeover

392 - Tiffany Murray - How to Use Creative Constraints, '2 Lives in Pittsburgh', The Best Camera for Indie Filmmaking, Collaborating Without Cockiness, Chasing Virality, Systemic Shifts in Conflict Resolution, and Fostering Inclusive Environments | Indie Talk Takeover

391 - 100K Subscribers, The Legacy of James Earl Jones, Disney's Live-Action Remakes, The Influence of Bots and Social Media and Shaping Cultural Narratives in the Entertainment Industry | Indie Talk

389 - Acclaimed Producer Gale Anne Hurd - Producing The Terminator, Aliens, and The Walking Dead, Building Successful Director-Producer Partnerships, Marketing Blockbusters, Strategies for Avoiding Costly Mistakes, and Advice on Maintaining a Healthy Work-Life Balance in the Film Industry

388 - Exploring Hollywood's Franchise Fixation, Unpacking Warner Brother’s $8.5B Nevada Deal, and Navigating AI's Impact on the Animation Industry | Indie Talk

387 - Indie Rights CEO Linda Nelson - How to Navigate the Streaming Landscape and Lessons in Entrepreneurship from a Pioneering Filmmaker

386 - Filmmakers John Kirby and Libby Handros: Exploring the JFK, RFK, Malcolm X and MLK Jr. Assassinations, Conspiracy Theories, the Genius of Dick Gregory, Famous Patsies, "Long Legs" Marketing, and their Documentary ‘Four Died Trying’

385 - Revisiting Indie Film Investment with Writer Jason McConnell - The Four Whys of Film Investing, Keys to Long-Term Success, the Transactional Nature of Hollywood, the Changing Landscape of Independent Film, Avoiding Predatory Contracts, and Protecting Your Film Investment

384 - Indie Film Investment From A to Z - EVERYTHING You Need To Know Before You Wire Funds | Re-Air

383 - Dr. Christian Gregory - Producer, Author, and Entrepreneur - Lessons in Health, Environment, and Activism, The Rise and Fall of Early Hollywood, How to Reclaim Your Attention, The Evolution of Storytelling, and Building Sustainable Brands for People and Planet

382 - Joshua Lastine - Entertainment Lawyer - Navigating Creative Representation, Legal Strategy, Insuring Your Creative Earnings, Reclaiming Creativity from Algorithms, and Funding Independent Films - Indie Talk Takeover

380 - Bonus Episode feat. Jon Fitzgerald: Festival Strategies: Choosing the Right Film Festivals for Your Goals, Crafting an Irresistible Film or TV Show Presentation, Signs Your Screenplay Needs Work and Tips for Working with Low Budgets and Limited Resources

379 - Jon Fitzgerald - Founder - Slamdance Film Festival - How to Network and Navigate the Festival Circuit, How to Become a Master Storyteller, Filmmaking for Social Impact, and Investing in a Career of Constant Creation

378 - Indie Talk w/ Chris & Nick - Hollywood Business Dynamics, Ghosting in the Film Industry, and Funding and Feedback Loops in Filmmaking

377 - Actor Sara Antonio - Working on Will Trent, Lessons on Acting from Louis Gossett Jr, Scene Study Techniques, Overcoming Rejection in the Entertainment Industry, and Crafting Stories and Careers Outside the Studio System

376 - Nathan Rigaud - Whale Animation Studios Creative Executive, Cinematographer, and Animator - Deconstructing the Art of Visual Storytelling, Going from From PA to Director, Learning the Film Industry as a Teenager | Indie Talk Takeover

375 - Reviewing ‘Monkey Man’, Representation in Film, Content Overload, Influencer Personas, Mike Tyson’s Fight with Jake Paul, and Historic Breakout Roles | Indie Talk

374 - Micah Simms, Cinematographer - The Art of Visual Storytelling, Secrets from a Film and Commercial Shoot Pro, Crafting Shots from Concept to Screen, and Mapping Shots to the Director's Vision

373 - Filmmakers Dexter Strong Buell & Derek Mindler on Speaking Truth in an Attention-Seeking Culture, Untangling Cult Cinema Cash Cows, A New Kind of Film School, Indie Ingenuity, and Their Short Film The South Shore | Indie Talk Takeover

372 - Jason Padgitt, Executive Director of the Nashville Film Festival - Inside the World of Film Festival Programming, The Power of Music Docs, What Festival Selections Reveal about a Film, and Balancing Art, Industry and Integrity

371 - Angus Benfield - Actor, Director, and Producer | The Story Behind “The Keeper,” Independent Filmmaking on a Budget, Tips for Avoiding Burnout, AI Tools, and Following Your Passion into a Career

370 - Launching Films in the Digital Age, New Models for Connecting Creators and Audiences, Navigating the Legal Landscape of Entertainment, and Optimizing the Film Industry | Daril Fannin & Austin Worrell - Founders, Kino Studios

369 - Balancing Art and Commerce in Independent Film, Using Art for Activism and Social Change | Actor, Writer & Producer Jordan Charles

368 - Indie Talk Takeover | Why Film Festivals Still Reign Supreme for Filmmakers, Staying Motivated, and Ranking the Best Films of Awards-Season | Host and Founder of Film Wax Radio - Adam Schartoff

367 - Indie Talk Takeover | Preserving Culture Through Documentary Filmmaking, Nonprofits, and Education | Filmmakers Nicholas Mihm & Rostam Zafari

366 - Indie Talk Takeover | Developing a Characters Authenticity, Backstory, and Truth to Roles | Acting Teacher & DigiFest Founder Diane Strand

365 - Indie Talk Takeover | Reinventing the Movie Business with Blockchain: The Future of Independent Film Financing, DAO’s and Smart Contracts | Chris J. Davis - Former WordPress Maverick & Film.io Co-Founder & CTO

364 - We Survived 2023! A Year In Review - Our Favorite Films, Conversations, and Episodes (And a Look Ahead to 2024) | Indie Talk

Happy New Year - Full Episode Drops Friday

363 - An Unlikely Journey to the Top of the Film Festival World | Brian Owens, CIFF Artistic Director

362 - Navigating Strikes and Incentives and Getting Films Made in New Orleans with Full Armor Films' Frank Monteleone | Indie Talk

361 - The Billion Dollar Tax Loophole: How Studios Legally Pay Zero, Pivoting Your Art to Find Success Later in Life, and The Financial Impact of WGA and SAG-AFTRA Strikes | Indie Talk

360 - Five Night's Box Office Success, Manipulating Criticism and Can Indies Replicate Taylor Swift's AMC Deal? | Indie Talk

359 - Director Roxana Baldovin - The Power of Hustle: Cold-Pitching Your Way from Music Videos to Feature Filmmaker | Indie Talk

358 - Bias vs. Impartiality: Selection Debates at Independent Film Festivals | Indie Talk

357 - Effectively Exploit Your Film by Leveraging Influencer Marketing Feat. President of QYOU Media, Inc. Glenn Ginsburg | Indie Talk

356 - Embracing Failure, Using Feedback Effectively, and Being Entrepreneurial in Filmmaking Feat. Writer & Director Todd Bogin | Indie Talk

355 - Using Film to Explore Radical Honesty w/ Writer and Director Jennifer Cooney | Indie Talk

354 - Indie Talk feat. Director & Podcaster Andrea Shreeman - Lessons and Realities of Converging Filmmaking, Storytelling, and Podcasting

353 - Indie Talk - Marketing Really Works (especially in Film), Fun with the 48 Hour Film Festival, and How Much Power Should Social Media Influencers Have

352 - Tips & Tactics for Producing an International Documentary - Indie Talk feat. Director Maggie Contreras and Producer Charity Wakefield

351 - Mistakes In The Making - Filmmaker Lance Clark - Contracts Matter But Relationships Matter More

350 - Indie Talk - Filmmakers Taking Their Power Back, A24 Leading The New Class of Indie, and Strike Updates w/ Art Director Frances Hernandez

349 - Indie Talk - Quiet Luxury, AI Making Writers Better, Apple Vision Pro Disruption, and Unintentional Microaggressions

348 - Indie Talk w/ Special Guest Christopher Everett - Documentarian and Artistic Director of the Southern Documentary Fund

398 - Rich Hull - Producer, Filmmaker - Navigating the Chaos of Documentary Filmmaking, Keys to Unlocking Opportunities in Filmmaking, Agile Filmmaking and Adapting the Tech Mindset to Documentary Production and Spotlighting Combat Chaplains