A podcast about
‍how great projects get made.

We sit down with creative entrepreneur and studio advisor Joel Pilger. After running Impossible Pictures for two decades—serving major clients like Disney, Nat Geo, and Ford, Joel now helps creative studios and production companies around the world build sustainable, purpose-driven businesses without compromising their creative identity. In this conversation, he shares what it takes to lead a creative business in today’s landscape of remote teams, tighter margins, AI disruption, and increased competition.

Joel unpacks the most common pitfalls creative studio founders face, especially around sales, marketing, and pricing. He explains why growth doesn’t have to mean dilution, how studios can structure their teams for creative freedom and financial discipline, and why the future belongs to lean, elite, highly specialized teams who know how to deliver at scale. Whether you're running a five-person shop or scaling beyond 20, Joel offers practical insights on navigating the “anxious middle,” setting smart financial guardrails, and focusing on what he calls your "genius."

This episode also dives into how studios can escape commoditization by shifting from order-takers to trusted experts, developing proprietary methods, and building community with both clients and peers.

We explore how Wisconsin is emerging as a new destination for filmmakers. We sit down with filmmaker Nathan Deming and veteran studio executive Suzanne Jurva, two key voices behind the recent passage of groundbreaking film incentive legislation in the state. Together, they break down how this bipartisan initiative came to life, what it means for the state’s creative economy, and why it could serve as a model for regional film development elsewhere.

Nathan shares his experience shooting in Wisconsin while splitting time between LA and the Midwest, and how the lack of infrastructure highlighted the need for change. Suzanne, whose career spans DreamWorks, independent film, and tech, discusses how her studio background shaped her advocacy efforts and why she believes the state is uniquely positioned to support both indie and studio-level productions. 

This episode dives into the real challenges of regional filmmaking—from crew access to gear rental—and how smart, community-driven policy can unlock growth. We also explore the early impact of these changes, the importance of post-production and training ecosystems, and the broader economic ripple effect of investing in film.

We’re joined by Tara Hein-Phillips, CEO and co-founder of Jolt—a film distribution company using AI, data, and performance marketing to reinvent how independent and documentary films find their audiences. With a background as Chief Product Officer at Sundance, where she launched the first virtual festival and co-founded Sundance Collab, Tara brings a rare blend of creative sensibility and digital strategy to the conversation.

She shares how Jolt’s Interest Delivery Network helps filmmakers identify and activate niche audiences through community partnerships, targeted events, and iterative data testing. From climbing doc Girl Climber to the upcoming Boston-set Cathedrals, each film receives a personalized rollout aimed at maximizing impact and viewership.

We also explore how Tara’s time at Sundance shaped her approach to Jolt, the role of festivals as modern-day marketing launches, and why sustainable careers for filmmakers require a mindset shift around budgets and reach. Tara offers a timely, thoughtful perspective on what it takes to connect stories to the people who need them most.