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What happens when you stop chasing trends and create something only you can offer? Steve Bridges, the comedic genius behind viral TikTok characters like gamer kid, Junior, and Dirty Dan, has built an audience of over 2 million followers by tapping into authentic experiences from his life.

In this revealing conversation, Steve shares how his challenging childhood—complete with family struggles that led to time in foster care—became the foundation for his comedy. Making his siblings laugh during difficult times wasn't just entertainment; it was emotional survival. This connection between comedy and resilience would shape his entire creative journey.

The road to success wasn't quick or glamorous. For over a decade, Steve worked as a hospital housekeeper, facing "the worst, grossest, nastiest stuff" imaginable. Yet every day, he'd race home to use whatever sunlight remained to film content. "I always knew one day it was going to happen," he reflects. "I might blow up after I die... but it's worth it." That persistence finally paid off when he stopped following TikTok trends and started creating original character-based videos that no one else could replicate.

Steve's authenticity and growing audience caught the attention of filmmaker Eric Mathis, leading to his first movie role in the comedy-horror film "INfernal." The collaborative nature of filmmaking proved revelatory for Steve, who found acting with others far more enjoyable than stand-up comedy. Now writing his own screenplay, he's expanding his creative horizons while maintaining the authenticity that built his following.

The conversation explores the shifting landscape of entertainment, the delicate balance between social media and traditional media, and the value of creating constantly rather than seeking perfection. Steve's journey demonstrates that in today's creator economy, building your own audience might be more valuable than waiting for Hollywood's permission.

Ready to be inspired by someone who created their own path to success? Listen now, and discover why sometimes the most unconventional route leads to the most authentic destination.

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In a conversation that's as much about creative resilience as it is about filmmaking, director Michael Ryan takes us deep into the 15-year journey of bringing The Dresden Sun to life. This ambitious cyberpunk thriller wasn't just directed by Ryan – he served as writer, producer, DP, editor, visual effects artist, and post-production supervisor, literally embodying every facet of the creative process.

The Dresden Sun throws viewers into a dystopian future where mercenaries are hired by powerful corporations to conduct espionage against their rivals. When a brilliant mercenary teams up with an insider to steal a mysterious technology called the Sphere, they trigger a chain reaction that pulls together disparate characters from across this fractured society. The film tackles big ideas about consciousness, corporate control, and interdimensional reality while delivering pulse-pounding action and stunning visuals.

What makes this conversation particularly compelling is Ryan's candid discussion of the challenges faced during production. From shooting during COVID with limited resources to personally creating hundreds of visual effects shots, his story reveals the extraordinary dedication required to complete an independent film with studio-level ambitions. "I averaged somewhere between 70 and 100 hours a week for a long time," Ryan shares. "I don't even know what a holiday is."

Perhaps most inspiring is Ryan's philosophy on creative persistence. Despite multiple failed deals and moments of almost pulling the plug, he never gave up on his vision. When asked if Hollywood is dead, Ryan offers a nuanced perspective: "What's dead is the over-reliance on strip mining nostalgia... it's time to take some risks, time to do something new." For anyone who's ever dreamed of making their own film or pursuing a creative vision against all odds, this conversation serves as both blueprint and battle cry.

Follow The Dresden Sun on Instagram and visit archetypepictures.com to learn when and where you can experience this groundbreaking independent film.

Support the show

Please consider following the podcast on Instagram, TikTok, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube!

HiD Artwork //

Mark Vega - Instagram

Theme Music //

Wave Saver "Night Stalker"

Try Epidemic Sound (This helps my channel if you sign up using this link)

Thank you for listening; it means the world to me!

LONG LIVE INDEPENDENT FILM!

Send us a text

Watch Crash Site

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Jason Sperling's fingerprints are all over modern television's visual language. With three Primetime Emmy nominations and two VES Award nominations, he's shaped shows like American Horror Story, The Walking Dead, and Bridgerton through his visual effects expertise. Yet his most profound creative achievement might be his wildly successful directorial debut – a short film that took nearly a decade to complete.

"Crash Site," starring Steven Yeun and Sam Richardson, has exploded to over 560,000 views on YouTube in just three weeks. But this "overnight success" began in 2013 when Sperling and writer Miles Brandman launched a Kickstarter campaign that raised $13,000 to shoot their sci-fi story. What followed was a winding journey through post-production challenges, life interruptions, and eventually a pandemic delay before the finished film reached audiences.

This remarkable timeline speaks to Sperling's central philosophy about creative work: "No one ever fails in Hollywood. They just give up." His persistence paid off spectacularly, revealing how independent filmmakers can thrive by focusing on story fundamentals rather than massive budgets. The film demonstrates Sperling's core belief that visual effects should serve narrative rather than dominate it – even as he navigates the industry's complex relationship with advancing technology.

Sperling provides fascinating insights into how he secured his high-profile cast (a friendship with Yeun from The Walking Dead led to Richardson joining before his breakout success), the challenges of indie production, and the future of filmmaking in an AI-influenced landscape. While acknowledging genuine concerns about technological disruption, he sees opportunity in democratized tools that allow creators to "zig when others zag."

For anyone pursuing creative work against seemingly impossible odds, Sperling's journey offers both practical wisdom and philosophical encouragement. As he puts it: "Human beings creating art are being the most human they can be." His story reminds us that Hollywood isn't dead – it's evolving – and determined storytellers still find ways to break through when they refuse to give up on their vision.

Support the show

Please consider following the podcast on Instagram, TikTok, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube!

HiD Artwork //

Mark Vega - Instagram

Theme Music //

Wave Saver "Night Stalker"

Try Epidemic Sound (This helps my channel if you sign up using this link)

Thank you for listening; it means the world to me!

LONG LIVE INDEPENDENT FILM!