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What does it take to build a global filmmaking career without waiting for permission? We sit down with New Zealand–born director Samuel Franklin, whose debut feature movie Tropical Snow blends dark comedy, handheld immediacy, and a quietly universal humanity. Samuel shares how a childhood steeped in 90s American cinema, Jackie Chan’s kinetic spirit, and a love for cross-cultural stories shaped his voice—and why he aims for films that feel international without losing heart. Watch the full movie Tropical Snow on elrodtvnetwork.com.

• defining a global storytelling voice without chasing trends
• crafting dark comedy with universal characters
• writing long and cutting sharp to protect pace
• making scope on indie budgets with handheld texture
• filming across Korea, Australia, Singapore and Vietnam
• on-the-ground crews, cultural norms and logistics
• self-teaching cameras and editing under pressure
• VFX as collaboration, not a crutch
• practical views on AI, tech and audience taste
• advice for new filmmakers to start and keep going

Tired of surface-level inspiration? This raw, transformative documentary digs deep into turning pain into purpose. Mainstream platforms wouldn't touch these powerful stories of resilience, but you can access them now on elrodvnetwork.com.

Tired of surface-level inspiration? This raw, transformative documentary digs deep into turning pain into purpose. Mainstream platforms wouldn't touch these powerful stories of resilience, but you can access them now on elrodvnetwork.com.

Tired of surface-level inspiration? This raw, transformative documentary digs deep into turning pain into purpose. Mainstream platforms wouldn't touch these powerful stories of resilience, but you can access them now on elrodvnetwork.com.

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Hello, and thank you for listening to Thirsty Topics podcast! I'm Lawrence Elrod, and every week Meryl Klemow and I dive deep into the stories that matter, the conversations that shape our world."

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