Hollywood Valley

#008 Surviving AI as a Filmmaker | Jose Ho-Guanipa

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 16:30:01 +0000

In this episode, we discuss:

Jose’s path from skate videos to commercial directing
Why music videos launched so many great filmmakers
Building a directing career after film school
The importance of curating your portfolio
The business side of filmmaking
Why directors should diversify their income
How commercial production is evolving
Using AI as a creative tool instead of a replacement
Hybrid AI and live-action production workflows
Open-source AI models and local workflows
How filmmakers can stay relevant in a changing industry
Advice for the next generation of directors

Guest Jose Ho-Guanipa

Production Company: https://sophist-films.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josehog/

#007 Getting Indie Films on the Shelf | Nick Isaak

hello@hollywoodvalley.co (Nick Isaak) — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 14:06:04 +0000

Nick’s path from MGM into digital distribution and film sales
What it was like working at MGM during the rise of digital platforms
The evolution of iTunes, VOD, and digital movie ownership
Lessons from Microsoft, Amazon, and Gravitas Ventures
How independent films actually get distributed today
Why film festivals are only one part of the distribution journey
The realities of film sales and monetization
How filmmakers should think about marketing before a film is finished
Why distribution strategy matters as much as production strategy
The future of AI dubbing and global film distribution
Helping filmmakers navigate distribution through GroupStitch
Learn more about GroupStitch:

https://groupstitch.com

#006 Entrepreneurs Need to Be Delusional | Brandon Kleinman

hello@hollywoodvalley.co (Brandon Kleinman) — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 15:30:00 +0000

Brandon’s early experience at Disney as an Imagineer
Why entrepreneurs sometimes need to be delusional
Building Laurel & Wolf and Showroom
Finding opportunity in overlooked industries
How AI is changing construction businesses
The idea behind Plan Monster
Cold outreach, sales, and getting attention
Why discomfort and embarrassment are part of building
Human psychology and founder mindset

Learn more about Plan Monster: https://planmonster.com

#005 From Animation to AI Filmmaking | Ian Wasseluk

hello@hollywoodvalley.co (Ian Wasseluk) — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Ian’s start at Cartoon Network and working on The Powerpuff Girls
The transition from traditional animation to digital workflows
Similarities between the adoption of digital animation and AI filmmaking
How Ian got started working with AI tools and filmmakers
AI filmmaking, prompt engineering, and creative workflows
Why storytelling and creativity still matter in an AI-driven world
Social media as a portfolio for modern creators
Entrepreneurship and building a creative career outside traditional studios
The future of animation and AI filmmaking

Learn more about Ian:
https://ianwasseluk.com

#004 Building the Future of Unscripted Development | Adam Wilkenfeld

hello@hollywoodvalley.co (Adam Wilkenfeld) — Fri, 29 May 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Adam’s transition from CNN to unscripted television
What makes a strong unscripted pitch
How producers discover new projects and talent
Why YouTube is changing the future of unscripted content
The challenges creators face getting ideas in front of decision-makers
How Showrilly helps creators and producers connect
Protecting pitches and navigating idea ownership
The future of unscripted development and content discovery

Learn more about Showrilly: https://showrilly.com

#003 How AI Is Changing VFX | Victor Rivas

hello@hollywoodvalley.co (Victor Rivas) — Wed, 20 May 2026 17:45:22 +0000

• Victor Rivas’ journey into visual effects and filmmaking

• Working on projects connected to major blockbuster films

• The challenges of building a VFX company in Puerto Rico

• Why pre-production matters so much in VFX

• How AI is changing visual effects workflows

• Why AI should be viewed as a tool instead of a replacement

• The future of indie filmmaking and AI-assisted production

• Why storytelling and human emotion still matter in film

Learn more about Lacus Post:

https://www.lacuspost.com

#002 Building Better AI Visuals for Creators | Colton Soref

hello@hollywoodvalley.co (Colton Soref) — Thu, 14 May 2026 17:02:14 +0000

Colton’s background in commercial production and documentary storytelling
Building Open Canva and simplifying AI creative workflows
How AI is changing filmmaking and visual storytelling
AI in pre-production, treatments, and creative planning
Authenticity and storytelling in an AI-driven world
Startup culture and filmmaking similarities
Collaboration, creativity, and the future of AI tools

Learn more about Open Canva: https://opencanva.co

#001 What's Data Actually Good For? | Tim Shea

hello@hollywoodvalley.co (Tim Shea) — Wed, 13 May 2026 17:17:25 +0000

In the first episode of Hollywood Valley, Alvaro de la Cruz sits down with Tim Shea, founder of Latticework Insights, to discuss AI, entertainment, audience behavior, and the growing gap between what these tools promise and what they can actually deliver today.

The conversation explores the current state of generative AI, the limitations of creative AI tools, predictive analytics, audience behavior, and why human creativity, taste, and decision-making still matter deeply in entertainment and storytelling.

Topics discussed:

AI hype versus practical reality
Why creativity and taste still matter in an AI-driven world
Predictive analytics and audience behavior in entertainment
The limitations of current generative AI tools
AI as a tool for creators, not a replacement
The future of media, storytelling, and entertainment technology

Follow Hollywood Valley for future conversations around entertainment, technology, AI, media, and storytelling.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/R6zoTDB74k0

X/Twitter: https://x.com/alvarodlcruz