No realm success is unfamiliar to actress and director Izzy Stevens. She knew that she had to share her tricks of the trade with others. “My new podcast indie spunk is a portal for emerging independent filmmakers — helping them roll up their sleeves, get strategic and create career-changing work, from script to screen,” she explains. “You can expect down-to-earth career guidance, micro-budget filmmaking strategies, and the kind of industry insight usually saved for those behind-closed-doors, high-level production exec coffee meetings. With a mix of solo episodes with yours truly, chatting about many of the topics we cover in my mentorship programs, as well as interview episodes featuring some incredible industry trailblazers who share their candid insight, advice, and guidance.” The podcast was born from a need to make the film industry more accessible, particularly when it comes to practical advice. “Over the past decade, I have searched for relatable, actionable, insightful film career guidance from a female perspective. I craved something that actually helped me feel involved and connected in an industry riddled with gatekeepers. But I couldn’t find it. So I created it. My company and this binge-able, funky, fast-paced podcast, is really a response to that. So I created what I needed 10 years ago, and what I still need now. There are plenty of podcasts highlighting studio and indie films, but indie spunk is different because we’re breaking down the tangible steps. How to practically forge your own career. How to make a micro-budget film. How to get your film into festivals. I grew tired of hearing interviews that were vague and general. I think creatives really want that roadmap demystified, and I believe it will help more diverse stories get told. The podcast is filled with info I wish I learned in film school.” Izzy doesn’t hide any blemishes, either. “It’s also just really honest. This life and this career are messy. I talk all about the missteps I made, the lessons I’ve learned…what I’m still learning. I am no guru. And I hope to keep learning til the moment I stop breathing. It’s what keeps us young!”
If we can diversify what we see on screen, our perception of whose stories matter expands. “Film and storytelling is how we as humans learn empathy, to see through another’s eyeballs. If we are only listening to select groups of people tell stories, we’re missing the full picture. Many of the clients and creatives I mentor and collaborate with come from backgrounds that are historically underrepresented, such as women, non-binary folks, and people of color. When we start working together, most of my clients deeply struggle with their mindset and worthiness on some level. They’re wondering, ‘Is my idea good enough?’ ‘Who will back my project?’ ‘Won’t everyone laugh at me if I call myself a director?’. They haven’t seen enough proof that their stories are valid. It’s systemic. When more creatives from diverse backgrounds make films, the world can become a better, more empathetic place. I truly believe that. The stories I help develop are powerful, funny, and moving, and if they stay locked away, the world misses out on that magic.” indie spunk should serve as the kindling for that spark of an idea you’ve been holding onto. The time is always now. “You are fully capable of building the career, the creative portfolio, and the life of your dreams,” Izzy says. “I hope to inspire more creatives to trust their gut, hone their voice, and to not be afraid to get it wrong, because failing is actually a really good sign —it means you’re on track to succeed. Just get back up. Dust yourself off. Tune in to the indie spunk podcast for guidance and try again. Also, don’t be too precious about it all. Everyone is too busy navel-gazing to really pay attention to you, so use that to your advantage and just take some messy action. Messy action is the only way I’ve gotten to where I am today.”
As if she wasn’t spinning enough plates, Izzy runs a synonymous company as well. “I’ve been an actor, director, and producer in this industry for over a decade, but when COVID hit, all of my projects hit pause. Because I am restless and drawn to help creatives strategize, I organically started mentoring peeps who wanted to use the time in lockdown to create a film. Now, it’s a growing community with indie spunk club, my group mentorship programs and I privately coach, too.” Networks can transform our aspirations into a confident and inevitable reality. “I initially started indie spunk to bring people together at a time of isolation, and to help facilitate stories, particularly for femme creators, non-binary folks, and historically underrepresented perspectives. Even though the industry has made great headway, I still feel frustrated by the lack of diversity in perspectives that we’re seeing on screen. From where I’m standing now, I can see why. So many of my clients deal with a deep inner struggle that they’re voices aren’t worthy, their stories aren’t worthy, and it breaks my heart because they really are. I work with some amazing people who I know can have the career they dream of, it’s just about getting them the tools and insight they need.” The results of Izzy‘s guidance are undeniable.”It’s so rewarding! Through indie spunk, I’ve helped first-time and seasoned filmmakers hit huge career milestones, push their creative boundaries, make impactful shorts and feature films, raise hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding, land their work at top-tier film festivals, and build meaningful industry relationships. And all of that is incredible, but you know, the most inspiring and rewarding piece for me is when success is preceded by building a solid foundation. The house gets built, brick-by-brick, with a longevity mindset, which is what our mentorship structure facilitates. It’s not overnight, it takes time, but it’s worth it. Small steps make big leaps. Personally, and perhaps selfishly, I am deeply rewarded when I see my clients achieve the success they crave.” She has no plans of stopping anytime soon. “Through my mentorship programs and film production house, I’m on a mission to help more underrepresented creators tell their stories, make impactful films, and build big, abundant, unapologetic careers in this industry.” The bolder, the better. Everyone deserves their space on the silver screen.
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Izzy Stevens Supports Aspiring Marginalized Filmmakers with New Podcast, “indie spunk.” Photo Credit: Camila Noriega.
