Open Session #2 - Being Open To Change

In this episode, Gian Carlo sits down with his father in his backyard in South Carolina, marking both his father's birthday and the recent release of his first book. What begins as a conversation about the book's origin unfolds into a much wider reckoning — early childhood trauma, a breakdown on the Garden State Parkway that became a turning point, a cross-state move made on faith rather than a plan, and the slow, hard-won shift from self-deprecation to self-critique. His father traces how leadership found him — through poverty, an unlikely mentor, and years of coaching youth soccer — long before he ever wrote about it, and unpacks the HEART framework at the center of his book: hope, empathy, authenticity, remembrance, and truth. The conversation turns personal as Gian Carlo shares the news that he and his wife are expecting, prompting a wide-ranging exchange on fatherhood, gratitude, the danger of tying self-worth to career or curated success, and what it means to separate who you are from what you do. It closes on the book's central message — that people matter — and a story about a childhood soccer ball that became a lesson in legacy.FOLLOW STEVEN ► (CLICK HERE) 2.5 BILLION HEARTBEATS (THE BOOK) ► (CLICK HERE)STEVENS INSTAGRAM ► (CLICK HERE)SUBSCRIBE ► https://www.youtube.com/@UC7fGr0b4pbFeVzwtDUYzEMA Switch to Musicbed and start your 14-day free trial today: https://musicbed.com/tcgpSign up to Milanote for free with no time-limit: https://milanote.com/carlostigsLearn more about Nanlite & Nanlux Products: https://nanlite.com/ // https://www.nanlux.com/#/en❤️ Enjoy the show? Rate us on Apple Podcasts & Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6yWlxm2ktUy9DFUbTi0jA8?si=d8b2250d259448c4 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-creative-gap/id1639440566🤝 Follow The Podcast & Carlo!The Creative Gap: https://www.instagram.com/creativegap/ | https://www.youtube.com/@CreativeGapPodcastCarlo: https://www.instagram.com/carlostigs/ | ⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@carlostigs

Gian Carlo sits down with Jacopo Ficulle — an Italian filmmaker and colorist known as The Dormant Seed — for a deeply personal conversation about what it means to stop running from yourself and start creating from an honest place. Jacopo opens with the origin of his alias: after years of commercial filmmaking left him slowly hollowed out, losing four major clients at once forced him to finally listen to a quieter inner voice he'd long been suppressing. From there the two explore the camera as a form of meditation, the writing process born from twelve years of therapy and journaling, and how Jacopo's personal filmmaking is the deliberate opposite of his commercial work — less control, more presence, more truth. The conversation moves into people-pleasing, the paradox of needing isolation to recharge while also needing connection to feel alive, and the unexpected discovery that communal living in art residencies gave Jacopo what modern life never could. Both men reflect on family, older generations, and how sitting with yourself — uncomfortable and unfiltered — might be the most radical thing a creative person can do. The episode closes on Jacopo's simple hope for his work: that someone watches it, puts their phone down, and asks themselves what they actually feel.FOLLOW JACOPO ► https://www.instagram.com/thedormantseed/SUBSCRIBE ► https://www.youtube.com/@UC7fGr0b4pbFeVzwtDUYzEMA Switch to Musicbed and start your 14-day free trial today: https://musicbed.com/tcgpSign up to Milanote for free with no time-limit: https://milanote.com/carlostigsLearn more about Nanlite & Nanlux Products: https://nanlite.com/ // https://www.nanlux.com/#/en❤️ Enjoy the show? Rate us on Apple Podcasts & Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/6yWlxm2ktUy9DFUbTi0jA8?si=d8b2250d259448c4https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-creative-gap/id1639440566________________________________________🤝 Follow The Podcast & Carlo!The Creative Gap: https://www.instagram.com/creativegap/ | https://www.youtube.com/@CreativeGapPodcastCarlo: https://www.instagram.com/carlostigs/ | ⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@carlostigs

connect with me → ⁠https://www.carlostigliano.com/⁠follow me → ⁠https://www.instagram.com/carlostigs/⁠where i get my music → ⁠https://fm.pxf.io/carlostigsfreetrial⁠where i get my reference images → ⁠https://frameset.app/stills?via=giancarlo

In this episode, Gian Carlo sits down with Nikita Khatsarevich, a Ukrainian-born cinematographer now based in Warsaw, for an honest and wide-ranging conversation about building a creative career from the ground up. Nikita traces his path from a small industrial city in Zaporizhia — where he almost became a jazz trumpet player — to climbing every rung of the camera department starting at 16, driven by a simple philosophy: find work that doesn't feel like work. He opens up about the unglamorous in-between periods of a freelance career, the unpredictable waves of busy and quiet months he still can't explain after nine years in the industry, and how he's learned to fill those gaps with life rather than anxiety. The conversation moves through his use of Unreal Engine as a pre-production tool, his decision to build the Black Side community after not finding the cinematography resource hub he was looking for, and his upcoming leap into YouTube — something he admits had his hands shaking. Through it all, a recurring theme emerges: Nikita's creative restlessness, his drive to keep challenging himself technically and personally, and his belief that every commercial job is just a rep in the gym preparing him for something bigger.

connect with me → ⁠https://www.carlostigliano.com/⁠follow me → ⁠https://www.instagram.com/carlostigs/⁠where i get my music → ⁠https://fm.pxf.io/carlostigsfreetrial⁠where i get my reference images → ⁠https://frameset.app/stills?via=giancarlo

This conversation explores Alex Lopez’s journey into becoming a Creative Director through a mix of risk-taking, relentless work ethic, and deep-rooted perspective shaped by his upbringing as a first-generation American. He reflects on moving to New York, stepping into leadership at Cadence, and learning to “own” a title he never initially felt qualified for—highlighting how confidence is built through action, not permission. Alex emphasizes the importance of obsession over mere passion, the power of surrounding yourself with the right people, and the need to move quickly from idea to execution. He also breaks down what creative direction truly means: not just making things, but communicating vision, leading teams, balancing art with business, and staying grounded in personal experiences to create meaningful, original work. Ultimately, his mindset centers on urgency, gratitude, and understanding that nothing is guaranteed—so you have to show up every day ready to create, evolve, and lead.Switch to Musicbed and start your 14-day free trial today: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fm.pxf.io/tcgp-freetrial⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to Milanote for free with no time-limit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://milanote.com/carlostigs⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more about Nanlite & Nanlux Products: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://nanlite.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ // ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nanlux.com/#/en⁠⁠⁠🤝 Follow Alex ► ⁠https://www.instagram.com/alex.always/🤝 Creative Dir ► https://www.instagram.com/cadence/🤝 Follow The Podcast & Carlo!The Creative Gap: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/creativegap/⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CreativeGapPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠Carlo: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/carlostigs/⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@carlostigs⁠

This conversation with Sam Snowden dives into the evolving mindset of a creative navigating purpose, pressure, and identity in a saturated digital landscape. He reflects on how growing responsibilities and external expectations can distort your original “why,” emphasizing the importance of returning to your roots and creating for the younger version of yourself. The discussion explores the unpredictability of freelance life, the danger of relying on external validation, and the need to build self-assurance through things beyond work—like relationships, fitness, and lived experience. Sam highlights the balance between ambition and not being consumed by your craft, reframing obsession as consistent curiosity rather than burnout. Ultimately, the conversation centers on taking action (“create more”), embracing failure as a necessary part of growth, and defining success on your own terms rather than through comparison or metrics.Switch to Musicbed and start your 14-day free trial today: ⁠⁠⁠https://fm.pxf.io/tcgp-freetrial⁠⁠⁠Sign up to Milanote for free with no time-limit: ⁠⁠⁠https://milanote.com/carlostigs⁠⁠⁠Learn more about Nanlite & Nanlux Products: ⁠⁠⁠https://nanlite.com/⁠⁠⁠ // ⁠⁠⁠https://www.nanlux.com/#/en⁠⁠🤝 Follow Sam ► https://www.instagram.com/samsnowden🤝 Subscribe ► ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@samsnowden⁠🤝 Follow The Podcast & Carlo!The Creative Gap: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/creativegap/⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CreativeGapPodcast⁠⁠⁠Carlo: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/carlostigs/⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@carlostigs⁠

In this conversation, Kariza Santos reflects on her journey as a filmmaker and YouTube creator, discussing the realities of building a creative career while trying to maintain balance in life. She shares how freelancing, experimentation, and years of learning eventually led her to develop a cinematic storytelling style on YouTube, while also navigating the constant pressure to produce content in a fast-moving digital space. Kariza talks about the importance of structure, boundaries, and time-blocking to avoid burnout, as well as the role of mentorship, collaboration, and community in helping creators grow. Ultimately, she emphasizes that creativity is a long-term pursuit built on persistence, curiosity, and self-awareness—encouraging creators to focus less on algorithms or perfection and more on finding their voice, continuing to learn, and creating work they’re genuinely proud of.Switch to Musicbed and start your 14-day free trial today: ⁠⁠https://fm.pxf.io/tcgp-freetrial⁠⁠Sign up to Milanote for free with no time-limit: ⁠⁠https://milanote.com/carlostigs⁠⁠Learn more about Nanlite & Nanlux Products: ⁠⁠https://nanlite.com/⁠⁠ // ⁠⁠https://www.nanlux.com/#/en⁠🤝 Follow Kariza ► ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/lifeofriza🤝 Subscribe ► https://www.youtube.com/lifeofriza🤝 Follow The Podcast & Carlo!The Creative Gap: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/creativegap/⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CreativeGapPodcast⁠⁠Carlo: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/carlostigs/⁠⁠ | ⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@carlostigs⁠

Ryan Booth shares an honest and deeply thoughtful look at what it actually means to grow as a filmmaker. From breaking out of the commercial “box” that once defined him to directing his first feature "Stages" after an eight-year journey, Ryan unpacks the tension between comfort and conviction — and what each stage of his career demanded of him. He reflects on moving from DP to commercial director to narrative filmmaker, learning to take full ownership of a vision, and collaborating without losing authority. This conversation explores leadership, vulnerability, agency politics, intuition, and the endurance required to bring a feature to life. At its core, it’s about the courage to stop trying to make everyone happy and instead stand firmly behind your voice — embracing the reality that the chaos and uncertainty never disappear, they simply evolve as you do.Switch to Musicbed and start your 14-day free trial today: ⁠https://fm.pxf.io/tcgp-freetrial⁠Sign up to Milanote for free with no time-limit: ⁠https://milanote.com/carlostigs⁠Learn more about Nanlite & Nanlux Products: ⁠https://nanlite.com/⁠ // ⁠https://www.nanlux.com/#/en🤝 Follow Ryan ► ⁠https://www.instagram.com/ryanbooth/🤝 Follow The Podcast & Carlo!The Creative Gap: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/creativegap/⁠ | ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CreativeGapPodcast⁠Carlo: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/carlostigs/⁠ | ⁠ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@carlostigs⁠

In this episode, Blaine Westrup reflects on the slow, earned process of finding your style as a filmmaker and the confidence that only comes through time, failure, and self-critique. He shares pivotal on-set struggles that shaped his growth, the tension between ownership and collaboration as a DP, and the importance of culture, energy, and “vibe time” on set. Blaine dives into risk—both financial and creative—and how saying “yes” more often changed his trajectory. He speaks candidly about YouTube as a creative logbook rather than an algorithm game, the discipline required to survive the highs and lows of freelance life, and why stepping away from the camera can sharpen your voice. Ultimately, his definition of success isn’t fame or money, but an inner calm—a grounded confidence in the direction he’s walking and the life he’s building beyond just the frame.Switch to Musicbed and start your 14-day free trial today: https://fm.pxf.io/tcgp-freetrialSign up to Milanote for free with no time-limit: https://milanote.com/carlostigsLearn more about Nanlite & Nanlux Products: https://nanlite.com/ // https://www.nanlux.com/#/en🤝 Follow Blaine ► https://www.instagram.com/wstrpp/Subscribe to Blaine ► https://www.youtube.com/@BlaineWestropp1🤝 Follow The Podcast & Carlo!The Creative Gap: https://www.instagram.com/creativegap/ | https://www.youtube.com/@CreativeGapPodcastCarlo: https://www.instagram.com/carlostigs/ | ⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@carlostigs