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Best in Fest

Leslie LaPage

241 episodes

5 days ago

In this inspiring Best in Fest episode, host Leslie LaPage spotlights the award-winning filmmakers of the 2025 LaFemme International Film Festival. From a Ukrainian refugee’s moving documentary Mama’s Voice, to the hilarious and heartfelt short The Whole Truth about motherhood and hemorrhoids, to the genre-bending Nepo Baby exploring identity and fame, to the chilling psychological thriller Don’t Let Them Out, and the emotional documentary The Ramba Effect about Chile’s last circus elephant—e...

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In this inspiring Best in Fest episode, host Leslie LaPage spotlights the award-winning filmmakers of the 2025 LaFemme International Film Festival. From a Ukrainian refugee’s moving documentary Mama’s Voice, to the hilarious and heartfelt short The Whole Truth about motherhood and hemorrhoids, to the genre-bending Nepo Baby exploring identity and fame, to the chilling psychological thriller Don’t Let Them Out, and the emotional documentary The Ramba Effect about Chile’s last circus elephant—e...

Show more...

Episodes (20/241)

Best in Fest

LaFemme Winners: Powerful Women’s Voices — From War Diaries to Comedy Shorts - Part 1

In this inspiring Best in Fest episode, host Leslie LaPage spotlights the award-winning filmmakers of the 2025 LaFemme International Film Festival. From a Ukrainian refugee’s moving documentary Mama’s Voice, to the hilarious and heartfelt short The Whole Truth about motherhood and hemorrhoids, to the genre-bending Nepo Baby exploring identity and fame, to the chilling psychological thriller Don’t Let Them Out, and the emotional documentary The Ramba Effect about Chile’s last circus elephant—e...

5 days ago

54 minutes

Best in Fest

From Soldier to Storyteller: Shannan Wynn on Indie Filmmaking

In this episode of Best in Fest, filmmaker, educator, and Army veteran Shannan Wynn shares her extraordinary journey from serving in the armed forces and counseling at-risk youth to building her own production company, Winquest Entertainment. Shannan reveals how her life experiences inspired her debut thriller A Life of Sunshine—a female-driven, murder mystery now streaming on Amazon Prime and Apple TV—and how she navigated the challenges of self-funding, casting, and distribution Shannan Wy...

1 week ago

38 minutes

Best in Fest

Lela Christine Thompson on Branding, Indie Marketing, and Digital Media Influence

In this episode of Best in Fest, branding strategist, publisher, and fashion-to-film trailblazer Lela Christine Thompson shares how she built a dynamic career at the intersection of fashion, entertainment, and digital media. From designing for Queen Pen and collaborating with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment on campaigns for Moulin Rouge, Soul Food, and The Hunger Games, to launching her own digital magazines like Power Player Lifestyle, Fab Five Lifestyle, and Goddess Couture News, Lela r...

2 weeks ago

36 minutes

Best in Fest

Breaking Barriers & Building Empires: Kimberly Ogletree on Producing, BET, and Greenlight Women

In this powerhouse episode of Best in Fest, award-winning producer and industry trailblazer Kimberly Ogletree shares her incredible journey through music videos, television, and independent filmmaking. From working with icons like Russell Simmons, Stevie Wonder, and Julie Dash to producing groundbreaking content for BET, Viacom, and MTV, Kimberly reveals how she transitioned from million-dollar music videos to producing ten original TV movies on a shoestring budget—paving the way for Black st...

3 weeks ago

40 minutes

Best in Fest

Love the Skin You’re In: Sauda Johnson-McNeal on Self-Love and Storytelling,

In this inspiring episode of Best in Fest, entertainment attorney turned filmmaker Sauda Johnson-McNeal shares her journey from studying acting at USC to founding her own production company, Ron Ash LLC, and creating the award-winning independent film Love the Skin You’re In. What began as a personal story of healing and self-discovery evolved into a powerful film about self-acceptance, resilience, and learning to love yourself at every stage of life riverside_sauda_johnson-mcneal_…. Sauda o...

1 month ago

27 minutes

Best in Fest

Bobbi Banks on Breaking Barriers in Post-Production and the Future of Film Sound

In this episode of Best in Fest, Emmy-nominated supervising sound editor Bobbi Banks shares her inspiring journey from starting as an assistant with no film background to becoming one of Hollywood’s most respected post-production voices. With over 120 film and TV credits—including Desperately Seeking Susan, Poetic Justice, Self Made, Snowfall, and When They See Us—Bobbi reflects on her early mentors, her groundbreaking work with John Singleton, and her path to leadership in the Motion Picture...

1 month ago

31 minutes

Best in Fest

Manifesting Masterpieces: Christine La Monte on the Art of Saying Yes

In this inspiring episode of Best in Fest, producer and filmmaker Christine La Monte takes us on a globe-spanning journey through her extraordinary career—from pioneering studio marketing campaigns in the 1980s to producing award-winning documentaries like Viva Verdi and Ai Weiwei: Yours Truly. Christine shares how she broke into the male-dominated entertainment industry, the spiritual force behind her creative choices, and how saying “yes” led to collaborations with cinematic legends and glo...

1 month ago

41 minutes

Best in Fest

Buddhism, Smuggled Hash & Hidden Footage: Marta György-Kessler’s Untold Journey into Documentary Filmmaking

Actress-turned-documentarian Marta György-Kessler joins Best in Fest to share her fascinating transformation from the stages of Budapest to uncovering untold spiritual journeys through film. In this episode, Marta dives into the backstory of her award-winning documentary Hannah: Buddhism's Untold Journey, her deep connection to Buddhist icon Hannah Nydahl, and her current film chronicling the life of the 16th Karmapa—one of Tibetan Buddhism’s most revered figures. Host Leslie Lippa explores M...

1 month ago

35 minutes

Best in Fest

Richard Lawson on Acting, Empowerment & The Artist’s Roadmap to Success

In this powerful episode of Best in Fest, Leslie LaPage sits down with legendary actor, director, teacher, and empowerment leader Richard Lawson. With a career spanning over 55 years—from Poltergeist to Tyler Perry productions—Lawson shares his journey of resilience, integrity, and artistry. He discusses his groundbreaking philosophy from The Artist’s Roadmap, why “no” is never the end but a reroute, and how mastering both craft and business creates lasting success in Hollywood. Along the way...

2 months ago

52 minutes

Best in Fest

Breaking Barriers in Animation: Sam Goff on Diversity, Storytelling, and Building Global Hits

In this insightful episode of Best in Fest, Leslie LaPage sits down with Sam Goff—creative talent manager at Fourth Wall Management and self-proclaimed “animation activist.” From her early days at DreamWorks and Netflix to teaching animated perspectives at Loyola Marymount and Cal State Long Beach, Sam shares how authentic voices are reshaping the future of animation. She dives into the importance of DEI in storytelling, why projects like K-Pop Demon Hunters succeed where others fall flat, an...

2 months ago

42 minutes

Best in Fest

Jermaine McGhee: From Stage to Screen—Dance, Choreography & Storytelling Through Movement

What does it take to transform a lifetime of dance into powerful storytelling for film, opera, and television? In this episode of Best in Fest, host Les LaPage sits down with Jermaine McGhee—scholar, choreographer, educator, and former principal dancer for the LA and San Francisco Opera, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning Omar. Jermaine shares his journey from performing in blockbuster films like Dance Flick to choreographing works that merge ballet, jazz, and American dance culture. He ope...

2 months ago

29 minutes

Best in Fest

From Docu-Follow to Soft Scripted: Audrey Smith on Crafting Reality That Resonates

In this episode of Best in Fest, Leslie LaPage chats with television producer Audrey Smith about the art and strategy behind reality TV’s evolving sub-genres. Audrey breaks down the difference between docu-follow and soft-scripted formats, revealing how casting, storytelling, and audience expectations shape each style. From Girlfriend Confidential to today’s surge in true documentary content, Audrey shares insider tips on creating compelling narratives, keeping viewers hooked, and navigating ...

2 months ago

45 minutes

Best in Fest

Breaking Barriers & Busting Myths: “It’s Our Ball” and the Power of Senior Women in Sports

In this inspiring episode of Best in Fest, Les Lippa sits down with filmmakers David Morrison, Penny Edmondson, and Judy Marlin to talk about their dynamic documentary It’s Our Ball—the untold story of senior women dominating the basketball court and redefining age, athleticism, and respect. From heartfelt personal journeys to the challenges of authentic storytelling, the trio shares how they brought these powerful voices to the screen and why this project is changing the conversation around ...

2 months ago

44 minutes

Best in Fest

Emmy Winner Bridget Stokes on Sketch Comedy, Episodic Directing & Indie Grit

What does it take to go from indie filmmaker to Emmy-winning director? In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with Bridget Stokes—trailblazing director of A Black Lady Sketch Show, Hello, Jack!, and Boy Genius—to unpack her inspiring rise through the film and television world. From waiting tables in New York to winning an Emmy as the first woman in her category, Bridget shares the real hustle behind her success. She dives deep into the contrasts between episodic TV and ...

3 months ago

37 minutes

Best in Fest

Nathan Elliott on Virtual Production & Brand-Backed Cinema

What do PlayStation, storefront media, and cutting-edge documentaries have in common? Nathan Elliott. In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with the Canadian entrepreneur, technologist, and filmmaker to discuss how he's revolutionizing advertising and storytelling. Nathan reveals how his company, FrontRunner Technologies, transforms vacant storefronts into immersive media platforms—and how that tech-savvy mindset shaped his foray into film production. They explore Blac...

3 months ago

37 minutes

Best in Fest

The Making of “Reminisce” with Ashna Sharan and Wayne Jay

What happens when an aerospace engineer-turned-actor and a multilingual actress-turned-writer join forces? You get Reminisce—a compelling new short film exploring a May-December romance, generational gaps, and power imbalances in love. In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with Ashna Sharan and Wayne Jay to unpack their creative journey, from meeting in a virtual writers' group to developing a short that’s captivating the festival circuit. They discuss character develo...

3 months ago

30 minutes

Best in Fest

From Commercial Giants to Intimate Documentarians with Jason & Blue Gerber

In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with powerhouse filmmaking duo Blue and Jason Gerber. From directing award-winning commercials for brands like Walgreens, Chipotle, and Lincoln Park Community Services, to creating emotionally resonant documentaries, this married team shares their evolution from the fast-paced world of high-budget commercials to the deeply personal realm of documentary filmmaking. They unpack their process for winning commercial pitches, the art of...

3 months ago

37 minutes

Best in Fest

From Back to the Future to Blind Logic: Jack Teeter’s Epic Marketing Journey

In this inspiring episode of Best in Fest, Leslie speaks with Jack Teeter—marketing legend behind iconic Universal hits like Back to the Future, Scarface, and The Breakfast Club. Now a director and producer, Teeter shares how his old-school marketing chops fueled the creation of Blind Logic: The Ralph Teeter Story, a powerful documentary about his blind great-uncle who invented cruise control. Discover what still works in film marketing today, how to compete with indie budgets, and why testin...

4 months ago

51 minutes

Best in Fest

Creating on Your Own Terms: Laura Knight on Producing, Storytelling & Owning Your Voice

In this episode of Best in Fest, Leslie sits down with powerhouse producer and development executive Laura Knight to talk about the art of telling stories across film, TV, podcasts, and animation. From her early days at ICM to her work with John Leguizamo and the groundbreaking interactive show Bar Karma, Laura shares what it takes to craft compelling content—whether it’s adapting a bestselling novel, running a female-led set, or reverse-engineering a podcast into a television series. Learn h...

4 months ago

32 minutes

Best in Fest

More Than Santa Baby: Tamar Springer’s Tribute to Musical Legend Philip Springer

In this inspiring episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie speaks with first-time filmmaker Tamar Springer about her powerful documentary More Than Santa Baby — a heartfelt tribute to her father, legendary composer Philip Springer. Known worldwide for penning the holiday classic "Santa Baby," Philip’s influence goes far beyond that single hit, with songs recorded by Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, and many more. Tamar shares how her background in social work evolved into an unexpec...

4 months ago

36 minutes