Breaking Indie

The Breaking Indie Podcast: Tina Borek on Acting, Agents & Building a Career in New Mexico

What does it really take to build a successful acting career outside of Los Angeles and New York?

In this episode of The Breaking Indie Podcast, we sit down with Tina Borek, a New Mexico-based talent agent with years of experience representing actors in both New Mexico and Los Angeles. Tina shares her unique journey from actor and marketing professional to becoming a talent agent and building her own boutique agency.

We...

On this episode of Breaking Indie, we’re coming to you straight from the Santa Fe Film Festival with a deep dive into the indie film Rivals—a gritty, character-driven thriller set against a 1930s Depression-era backdrop.

Host Brendan Roberts sits down with actors Gene Hunt and Luce Rains, two longtime staples of the New Mexico film scene, to talk about their journeys through decades of stage and screen work. From Rains’ experience in No Country for Old Men and 3:10 to Yuma to Hunt’s return to acting after years in business, the conversation explores what it really m...

In this episode of Breaking Indie, we sit down with filmmakers Goldie Tom and Ryan Begay, who brought two powerful films to the Santa Fe Film Festival: the documentary Honor Song and the narrative short Cleaning Is a Cakewalk. 

Ryan shares how his journey from serving five years in the U.S. Air Force to working as an engineer eventually led him into filmmaking—and how that path inspired Honor Song, a documentary exploring Native American veterans and the role culture, prayer, and song play in their lives before, during, and aft...

Ep. 24 Chris and Will of Altitude Murals, Advertising 

In this special, slightly off-brand episode of Breaking Indie, we step outside the world of filmmaking and into the streets of Santa Fe to talk art, advertising, and large-scale storytelling.

Recorded during the 25th Anniversary Santa Fe Film Festival, host Brenden Wedner sits down with Chris and Will of Altitude Murals, a father-and-son team whose hand-painted poster became the visual identity of this year’s festival. From vintage billboard painting in the pre-digital era to modern mural workflows inspired by...

In this episode of Breaking Indie, we’re coming to you from the Santa Fe Film Festival with two powerful conversations about documentary filmmaking, balance, and finding your voice as an artist.

First, we sit down with filmmaker Alexandra Lexton, director of the feature-length documentary Fool’s Paradise Lost. Alex shares the deeply personal journey behind the film—an exploration of healing, reconnection to nature, and restoring both our inner and outer wilds. Shot across the United States and Tanzania, the film brings together environmental voices, indigenous wisdom, and spiritual reflection. Alex opens up about the fi...

In this episode of Breaking Indie, host Brenden Roberts sits down with filmmakers Laurie Clemens Maier and Laurel Harris, the creative team behind the short film 47. What begins as a lively, candid conversation quickly unfolds into a deeply personal and timely discussion about creativity, collaboration, and the realities many women face as they navigate career, identity, and the question of motherhood.

Laurie and Laurel share the real-life experiences that inspired 47, a narrative film exploring what happens when a woman who’s done “everything right” professionally is confronted with t...

Hosted by Brenden Roberts, this episode of Breaking Indie features Mark and Mike Chamberlain.

In this episode we talk about filming in Japan, manifesting your creation through faith, directing your twin, taking direction from your twin, and Yeti mugs. 

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The Breaking Indie Podcast. It’s the cheap and dirty podcast who explores all elements of filmmaking. We take lessons from all perspectives on the industry, from Hollywood legends to independent artists. Please like, subscribe, and leave a review. For inquiries about future episodes, or to be featured in our...

Hosted by Brenden Roberts, this episode of Breaking Indie features Anne-Marie Johnson and Martin Grey and their film, “The addiction of Hope” writing during the pandemic. SAG representative (former Vice-President, and first African American woman to serve in said position, and current board member), Anne-Marie Johnson speaks to her experience as an actress evolving and reinventing herself in the wake of an art form resistant to aging. The importance of unions, and collaborative agreements from SAG-AFTRA. We discuss the various SAG contracts and how to navigate them as an indie filmmaker. Also, as told through the film, how your acti...

Hosted by Brenden Roberts, this episode of Breaking Indie features the director and star of "Penguins in Paris... a Love Story".

Director, Producer, Writer, Kenny Hargrove is an award-winning producer who's made short films and webseries. Kenny is now packaging a feature film project called "Snow"

Genia Michaela began her theatre career acting in plays on Broadway. She began her film career working with Steven Soderbergh. Genia has attended U. North Carolina School of the Arts, MIT and Yale, where she played D1 Ice Hockey. She has studied Physics, Opera, Screenwriting and Directing...

Recorded at the 2025 Santa Fe Film Festival, join host Brenden Roberts on an exploration through filmmaking and what it takes to break into the entertainment industry today. Buckle your seatbelts, because here’s another episode of Breaking Indie.

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Krassimira Belev & Tony Belev, “The Therapy”

@thetherapy_film

@krassimira_belev

@bloodyxyz

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@RollyStafford

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Blake de Pastino is an award-winning actor, model, and co-creator of educational YouTube channels including Crash Course, SciShow, and PBS Eons, of which is also co-host. He has appeared in feature films including “The Fear of It,” “Slant Streets,” and “Blood for Dust,” as well as short films including “Come Out, Wherever You Are,” for which he has won multiple Best Actor awards, “Fracture,” for which he won Best Actor in the Montana 48 Hour Film Project and “Me, Myself & I,” for which he won Best Actor in the Wyoming 48 Hour Film Project. He works as an actor, advocate for disability rights, and e...

In this episode we talk to Rodrigo Tactaquin and his work with the show Longmire as well as in part two, Claire Sandberg about her film “The Ramba Effect” winner of Best Documentary at The Santa Fe Film Festival.

The Ramba Effect follows the powerful and inspiring journey of Ramba, the last circus elephant in Chile, as she travels 2,550 miles to her new home at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil. After five decades of captivity, Ramba must summon extraordinary strength for one final quest: freedom. During her long journey by plane and truck, she faces daunting obstacles that test her...

Eddie Velez (Traffic) talks about directing Target Jeremy and his strategy as a first time filmmaker. We also talk with Antonio Weiss who shares his journey with an upcoming film, and how he intends to make his next project in Paraguay.

Learn more about Target Jeremy at https://targetjeremy.com/

Recorded at the 2025 Santa Fe Film Festival, join host Brenden Roberts on an exploration through filmmaking and what it takes to break into the entertainment industry today. Buckle your seatbelts, because here’s another episode of Breaking Indie.

...

Ep. 14 Zoe Dunay & Aris Federman

Meet the team behind the award winning film “Tin Soldiers” and Blue Oak Productions. In this fun and lively conversation, we talk about our mutual love for Christopher Nolan, the hometown of the atomic bomb (Los Alamos), and this charismatic couple’s journey into filmmaking. 

Winner of the Jury Award for Best Cinematography at the 2025 Santa Fe Film Festival, “Tin Soldiers” delves into the journey of a child navigating the complexities of mental health treatment at a time when he’s still discovering what ‘normal’ is.

Contacts available on Instagram and...

I was born on this planet, why do I pay to exist here? That’s one question proposed by Hossein in today’s podcast episode. Additionally, we discuss how his political asylum has affected his career as a documentary filmmaker, and dive further into a philosophical discussion, while learning more about his latest award winning film “I Am Gitxsan” which explores a recent high school graduate reconnecting with his Indigenous heritage in Hazelton, British Columbia, Canada.

Visit his production website: www.fazelifilms.com

or for his latest film “I am Gitxsan” on the web: www...

Catch our exclusive excerpt with Ari Aster about his latest film, Eddington. For more juicy content, enjoy our full episode on youtube!

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Please like and subscribe. The Breaking Indie Podcast can be found on Spotify, Apple Music, Soundcloud, and Youtube.

Ari Aster brings his new film back to New Mexico with the help of A24.

We take a look behind the scenes of Eddington, talk to the director Ari Aster, as well as NM actors: @josephortega_ and @racheldelatorreofficail as well as the brains behind the drone show, 

A BIG ASS thank you to A24 and all the people behind this premiere in Truth of Consequences. 

Support the show

Please like and subscribe. The Breaking Indie Podcast can be found on Spotify, Apple Music, Soundcloud, and Youtube.

In this episode we talk to the filmmakers behind “What Tomorrow Brings” a family drama created by Matt Engelbert. During this two part interview we speak with the cast and creators behind this family affair. We will also learn how Matthew created two national syndicated shows “Ariel, Zoey, & Eli, Too” as well as “Steal The Show” with no Hollywood connections, and the journey behind his family’s legacy in mainstream entertainment.

Recorded at the 2025 Santa Fe Film Festival, join your host Brenden Roberts on an exploration through filmmaking and what it takes to break...