The Struggle is REEL

Mahalia Ines Pridgett & Erik Francisco Medina

We know firsthand how intense the entertainment industry is. We also know that being a young entrepreneur can be intense and overwhelming. So how do you cope? BY VENTING, OF COURSE! Join us as we chat with entertainment industry professionals across all mediums and young entrepreneurs as we vent about the struggles and antics of our lives!

Hosted by Mahalia Latortue and Erik Francisco Medina.
Produced by Ryan Pak, Mahalia Latortue, and Erik Francisco Medina
Brought to you by Anacaona Pictures

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35 episodes
Updated Nov 5, 2020
Explicit

Episodes35

Newest first

Aug 10, 2020 · 58 min
Music Videos and Film with Nick Tabidze!
Today's guest is Nick Tabidze. Nick is a director, actor, photographer, and DP. Hailing from West Virginia, Nick He is an energetic practitioner of the arts and sciences. After earning his undergraduate degree in biology, Nick chose to pursue storytelling and documentary filmmaking and received his Masters of Science in Journalism from West Virginia University. During his undergraduate career, Nick acted in theatrical productions and directed several award winning short films, two of which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. Nick currently works at RiTE Media group where he directs, edits, and DPs music videos.⁠ Nick was also the DP on Mahalia's thesis film Chocolate Thunder! Nick’s Instagram: @nicktabidze Host Instagram: @mahalialatortue Co-Host Instagram: @erikfranciscomedina Producer & Audio Engineer: @paksanity2 website: www.struggleisreelpodcast.com
Aug 6, 2020 · 1 hr 8 min
Representation, The Industry, and more with Sofía Palmero!
This week we have the pleasure of interviewing queer Latina actress and writer Sofía Palmero. Sofía is an actor, writer, dramaturg, and director in Atlanta, GA. You might have seen her in Out Front Theatre’s Bull in a China Shop, Vernal And Sere Theatre’s Spirits to Enforce, or Shakespeare on Draught’s Henry IV & V. On screen, you can see her in the musical short Sonorous. She was featured in the AJC as a “Playwright to Watch in 2020.” Her short plays, Harina Pan and Primavera premiered at the Latinas in Media Atlanta Showcase (2018 and 2019). Another short piece, To Build a Home, was featured in Aurora Theatre’s Festival de Microteatro. Most recently, the full length iteration of Harina Pan was selected for development through the Table Series with Working Title Playwrights. In her work, Sofia explores queerness, Latinidad, and what it means to connect meaningfully. Within and outside her work, Sofia fights to empower marginalized artists to share their stories and challenge conceptions of what the world does, and could, look like. She also starred in @erikfranciscomedina 's thesis film @sonorousthemusical.⁠ Sofía’s Instagram: @sofia_withanf Host Instagram: @mahalialatortue Co-Host Instagram: @erikfranciscomedina Producer & Audio Engineer: @paksanity2
Jul 29, 2020 · 58 min
A Conversation with Showrunner Joan Rater!
Joan Rater is an American television producer and screenwriter. Her most notable work has been for the medical drama Grey's Anatomy, for which she has served as writer, producer and supervising producer for over fifty separate episodes. She is married to Tony Phelan who also works on the show. She has been nominated, along with the rest of the Grey's Anatomy crew, for two Emmys in 2006 and 2007, both for "Outstanding Drama Series". Apart from her Grey's Anatomy producing and directorial work, she has worked mainly as a writer on television series including Law & Order: Trial by Jury, Fling, Threat Matrix, MDs and Push, Nevada. She has also produced for Law & Order: Trial by Jury and served as an executive story editor on Threat Matrix and 10-8: Officers on Duty.⁠ Recently she and Tony created the NBC drama series Council of Dads. Joan's Instagram: @joanrater Host Instagram: @mahalialatortue Co-Host Instagram: @erikfranciscomedina Producer & Audio Engineer: @paksanity21 ⁠ ⁠
Jul 22, 2020 · 1 hr 6 min
Industry Talk with Kaylon Hunt!
Kaylon is an award-winning filmmaker and actor. His work has been featured in national media outlets including IndieWire and Variety Magazine, which deemed him "One to Watch" in their Hollywood New Leaders issue. Kaylon made his first directing effort with his comic book-inspired short film, Hero Story (2012), that premiered at the Comic-Con International Film Festival. He soon began working for their newly formed JuVee Productions where @violadavis and Julius Tennon became mentors to him, offering guidance through his career and encouraging him to maintain his own voice. He performed in the company's first produced stage endeavor, Camp Logan, with critics giving especially high marks for the strong performances of the ensemble cast; the production won three NAACP Theatre Awards. The company's award-winning short film The Brink (2015), which Hunt wrote and starred in, found acclaim among festival audiences and critics. Hunt continues to act, write, and produce alongside playing a key creative role as VP of Development and Production within @JuVeeProductions to develop and produce inclusive, character-driven narratives.⁠ Kaylon's Instagram: @kaylon_hunt Host Instagram: @mahalialatortue Co-Host Instagram: @erikfranciscomedina Producer & Audio Engineer: @paksanity21
Jul 15, 2020 · 1 hr 12 min
Television, Music, and more with Frank Radice!
Today's guest is Frank Radice! Frank is a television industry executive, businessman and author. He resides in New York City and London, England. Radice currently serves as Managing Partner of VIDA F.R. Company, a promotion, marketing, media, and consulting firm with offices in New York City, Los Angeles, and London. Radice also serves as the Expert-in-Residence at Definition 6, an Atlanta-based unified digital marketing agency. In 2007, he oversaw the marketing of “Where in the World is Matt Lauer?" which became a successful online NBC Today Show franchise and was sold to Hyundai Motors under a sponsorship agreement. Radice also coordinated a deal agreement between NBC Universal and Procter & Gamble that launched petside.com a web site catering to the pet industry.⁠ Frank's Instagram: @fradice Host Instagram: @mahalialatortue Co-Host Instagram: @erikfranciscomedina Producer & Audio Engineer: @paksanity21 Visit www.struggleisreelpodcast.com for updates, merchandise, and more!
Jul 8, 2020 · 58 min
We're Back and Ready to Roll!
After a long hiatus, The Struggle Is REEL is back with new episodes! We switched up our format and even added a co-host! Today's guest is Natasha Sequeira! Natasha Sequeira is an Anglo-Indian writer, director and producer. She graduated from M.O.P. Vaishnav College for Women, Chennai, India with a bachelor's degree in Electronic Media. Natasha has previously worked in the Kollywood television industry, and as an editor for a children's educational publishing company. Her passion for all things film and television led her to pursue her M.F.A. in Film and Television Broadcasting at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta, Georgia. Since her enrollment in Fall 2017, she has written, directed and produced (in varying capacities) over twenty short films, brand films, music videos, fashion films, and more. She is set to make her directorial debut with her thesis film 'Beyond Customs' which is scheduled to enter the festival circuit in 2020, along with four other short films she is producing.⁠ ⁠ Natasha's Instagram: @tasha2014 Natasha's Thesis Film: @beyondcustoms.film Host Instagram: @mahalialatortue Co-Host Instagram: @erikfranciscomedina Producer & Audio Engineer: @paksanity21 Visit www.struggleisreelpodcast.com for updates, merchandise, and more!
Aug 7, 2018 · 1 hr 4 min
Episode 08: Black Hollywood
This is the last episode of this season! It’s been a great ride, and we are excited to see what’s next for #TheStruggleIsReel! For this episode, the fantastic duo of Devin McGhee and Dominique Johnson! Thank you, ladies, for being phenomenal guests! Our topic of the day is Black Hollywood. We talk about all our favorite Black films, actors, and of course Black Panther. Instagrams: @rhoyal_monet @devinkielle @dominiquesjohnson #Podcast #Filmmakers
Jul 21, 2018 · 53 min
Episode 07: Finals Week
In this episode we talk about the stresses of finals week and making it through to the home stretch! I'm joined by Anna Scalzi and Kerbi Slusser. Instagrams: @rhoyal_monet @paksanity21 @scalzi89
Jul 14, 2018 · 50 min
Episode 06: Meet Your Teacher with Quinlan Orear
Today’s episode is a little different from what we typically do. This segment is called Meet your Teacher. We sit down and have a chat with SCAD Atlanta Professor Quinlan Orear. We talk about everything a film student needs to know. Check it out! 🎧
Jul 10, 2018 · 51 min
Episode 5: Production Horror Stories
Have you ever been on a set where it was not going to plan? Well, today's episode, we talk about set horror stories! Speakers: Jason Barrera - Instagram @jasonjoeb82 Alange Jacobs - Instagram @ajpayday Producer: Mahalia Latortue - Instagram @rhoyal_monet Associate Producers: Ryan Pak - Instagram @paksanity21 Narah Pena - Instagram @thenarahpena
Jun 30, 2018 · 51 min
Episode 04: Guilty Pleasures
Today's episode features SCAD Film Graduate Students Narah Pena and Ryan Pak. We discuss what our guilty pleasures in film and television. DON'T JUDGE US! @rhoyal_monet @paksanity21 @thenarahpena
Jun 22, 2018 · 59 min
Episode 03: William Greenfield
Today's guest is Mr. William Greenfield, a local line producer here in Atlanta. He is known for working on Superfly, Loving, 99 Homes, Django Unchained, and so much more. We talked about how he got his start, the best ways to break into the industry, and we go into the details of what a line producer does. You don't want to miss this episode! https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1836176/
Jun 15, 2018 · 1 hr 6 min
Episode 02: Whatever Comes To Mind!
Joining me on this episode is Angelica Marie George and Manahar Kumar! We discuss everything from Childish Gambino's This Is America to on set horror stories. @rhoyal_monet @paksanity21 @angelicamarie24g @mankmar
Jun 15, 2018 · 1 hr 6 min
Episode 01: Movies We Haven't Seen...But Probably Should Have
The very first episode of The Struggle Is Reel! Today's guests are Milan Pompey Williams, Erik Francisco Medina, and Erwin Villanueva. The topic of the day is "Movies We Haven't Seen...But Probably Should Have." Follow us on Instagram @struggleisreel @rhoyal_monet @paksanity21 @mimsterunnie @erwincomsic @erikfranciscomedina
Jun 6, 2018 · 17 sec
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