Deysha Johnson: Beyond the Legacy

Can love stories make money? Screenwriter Holly Phillips makes her case on REEL TALK! 🎬✍️💕In Holly Phillips: Writing Love, Talking Business, Holly joins me in the studio to discuss her screenwriting journey, her Best Writing win at Buffalo’s 2026 48 Hour Film Project, and the challenges of creating a story under a tight deadline.We explore her love of romantic comedies and get into a friendly debate about their earning potential. Holly sees opportunity in the genre, while I bring a more skeptical perspective. Can a rom-com find paying audiences without recognizable stars and what makes one worth the investment?Holly also discusses the episode she wrote for the upcoming Aaron and Abby’s Adventures, including its cinnamon-themed holiday. We talk about her dream rom-com lead and advice for writers approaching their first screenplay.Whether you’re writing your first script or enjoy hearing how stories take shape, join us for a conversation about creativity, collaboration, and the business of entertainment.💬 Join the debate: Can a strong rom-com succeed without big-name stars? Share your thoughts and your dream leading performer below!👍 Like the episode, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more REEL TALK interviews with writers, actors, directors, and creative talent.🎧 Spotify & Apple Podcasts: REEL TALK with Indie-AdamInstagram: @adam_steigert_officialFacebook: @OfficialAdamSteigertYouTube: @Indie-Adam#HollyPhillips #ReelTalk #Screenwriting #RomComs #IndieAdam

Della Gray discusses her film Mistress and the Wife alongside her career in acting and filmmaking. She reflects on her journey in entertainment, the experiences that have shaped her work, and the lessons she has learned along the way. The conversation explores her perspectives on performing and creating films, connecting her work in front of the camera with her creative interests behind it. Her discussion of Mistress and the Wife places the project within her broader career, offering a personal look at her development as an actress and filmmaker.

Take a seat with actor Jason John Beebe and filmmaker Adam R. Steigert for a throwback REEL TALK podcast filled with movie conversation and the easygoing energy of two longtime collaborators hanging out. This archival episode brings their shared filmmaking history into a casual conversation about life in entertainment.Jason’s screen work includes OMBIS: Alien Invasion, FANG, and The Horrific Evil Monsters films that connect his acting career with Adam’s work as a director. Their creative history provides the backdrop for a conversation about performing, making movies, and the experiences that come with bringing stories to the screen.From the actor’s perspective to the director’s chair, this throwback captures the personalities behind the productions. Join Jason and Adam for a relaxed look at their connection through film, their enthusiasm for storytelling, and the people and projects that make the journey memorable.

In Deysha Johnson: Beyond the Legacy, host Adam R. Steigert welcomes filmmaker and creative marketing professional Deysha Johnson for a conversation about her path in entertainment. Johnson discusses her short film Lai, the challenges of creating a film in 48 hours, and her approach to working with actors. The conversation also explores music management, her work with Streets Soprano, and how her background in business and dance informs her creative pursuits. Reflecting on her uncle, Rick James, Johnson shares a personal perspective on his legacy while discussing her own interests, experiences, and ambitions.

In this bonus clip from the world premiere of The Horrific Evil Monsters, guest host Jordan Lema speaks with Gregory Blair about his portrayal of Famine. Blair discusses bringing the character to life and the distinctive elements that give the role its iconic presence. Their conversation offers a glimpse into the performance behind the monster, capturing a moment with the actor as he celebrates the film’s premiere.

In Just Talking, Dominic Luongo and Adam R. Steigert sit down for an informal exchange about their experiences in filmmaking. Luongo brings the perspective of an actor, producer, and writer, while Steigert contributes his experience as a director, producer, and editor. Their conversation draws on these different responsibilities and the independent projects they have worked to build together.Storytelling is one of the central subjects. The pair share their thoughts on creating films, connecting their interest in telling stories with the work involved in making them. Their perspectives reflect participation in several stages of production, bringing performance, writing, directing, producing, and editing into the same conversation.Collaboration provides another focus. Luongo and Steigert reflect on their experiences working together, discussing filmmaking through the context of their own creative relationship. Their exchange considers the shared effort behind independent projects and the challenges they have encountered along the way.The discussion also addresses their journeys as creatives. They reflect on their experiences and enthusiasm for the craft, linking the practical demands of production with their personal investment in the work. These reflections offer a view of the people behind the projects as well as the filmmaking responsibilities they undertake.The episode unfolds as a conversation between collaborators rather than a formal question-and-answer interview. Both participants contribute their thoughts, allowing the discussion to move among storytelling, production, and their shared experiences. Its candid format places emphasis on the exchange itself and the perspectives each person brings.Across the conversation, Luongo and Steigert connect their passion for filmmaking with the realities of developing independent work together. Just Talking presents a personal look at their collaboration through reflections on creativity, challenges, and the continuing process of making films

In this throwback bonus episode of Reel Talk, host and filmmaker Adam R. Steigert discusses DC Studios and the debate surrounding James Gunn and Zack Snyder. The archival conversation captures his perspective at the time of recording, focusing on the filmmakers’ association with DC and the contrasting expectations audiences bring to its screen adaptations.The discussion addresses the division among fans who support different visions for DC’s characters and stories. Adam considers the conversation surrounding Gunn and Snyder, including the perceived rivalry that has become part of that debate. The episode presents his commentary on the subject rather than an interview with either filmmaker.Creative direction is a central focus. Adam discusses the filmmakers in relation to DC’s screen universe, bringing his own perspective as a director into a conversation about other creators’ work. His interest in filmmaking accompanies his response as a viewer, connecting questions about storytelling with the audience discussions surrounding these productions.The episode also considers DC Studios as the larger context for the debate. Discussion of its direction connects the two filmmakers with broader expectations for the characters, films, and stories associated with DC. Adam’s commentary reflects the competing viewpoints that form the subject of this bonus installment.Presented as a throwback, the episode preserves an earlier discussion rather than serving as a current news update. Its focus remains on Adam’s views during that period and the debate he is addressing. Across the conversation, he brings together DC Studios, Gunn, Snyder, and audience reactions in a personal reflection on superhero filmmaking and creative differences.

In this bonus clip from Nicole Shiflett: Finding Your Voice, Nicole joins host Adam R. Steigert to recall learning she would be working with him on OMBIS 2: Alien Awakening. She reflects on receiving the news and her reaction to the opportunity, revisiting a moment that connected her acting journey with Adam’s filmmaking.The conversation brings the actress and director back to the beginning of their collaboration. With both participants sharing that connection to the production, the exchange offers a personal perspective on the experience of joining a film and discovering who she would be working alongside.This extended moment from their Reel Talk interview focuses on Nicole’s recollection of the news, giving viewers a glimpse into the person behind the performance and the experience that preceded her work on screen.

In this bonus clip from Nicole Shiflett: Finding Your Voice, Nicole joins host Adam R. Steigert for a conversation about the paranormal and her new show. The discussion shifts from her acting journey to another area of her interests, giving viewers a glimpse of the project and its connection to the unexplained.Nicole talks about the show as part of a more personal exchange about her creative pursuits beyond the roles she portrays on screen. The clip introduces another side of her work, bringing paranormal discussion into her Reel Talk conversation with Adam.

In this throwback episode of Reel Talk, Adam R. Steigert discusses 28 Years Later in a spoiler-filled conversation about its story, characters, and major plot developments. Sharing his reactions to the film, Adam moves beyond anticipation to reflect on the events that unfold on screen. This discussion contains spoilers and is intended for viewers who have already watched the movie.Adam also discusses his own film productions, connecting his enthusiasm for horror with his experiences behind the camera. Moving between 28 Years Later and his own creative work, the conversation brings together his perspectives as both a horror viewer and a filmmaker.