Podcast · 23 episodes

The Creative Gap

by Gian Carlo Stigliano · English

The Creative Gap Podcast is for Filmmakers, Entrepreneurs & Creatives. Our goal is to provide conversations around rarely-discussed topics, including Personal Finance, Mental Health, Business, Investments, Relationships, Freelance Life and so much more. Hear from weekly guests on all podcasting platforms.

Education Self-Improvement

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Latest episodes

#89 - Steven Stigliano - Author, Business Leader & FatherSteven Stigliano (author, business leader, father) discusses why he wrote his book now, how faith and forgiveness helped him overcome anxiety/depression and trauma, and how to lead with empathy,…24 Aug 2026 · 1 h 14 min

#88 Jacopo Ficulle - Filmmaking as a Form of HealingJacopo Ficulle discusses “Filmmaking as a Form of Healing,” describing how a creative rut led him to shift from commercial filmmaking and algorithm-driven YouTube toward his Dormant Seed project,…6 Jul 2026 · 1 h 12 min

Open Session #3 - The Responsibility of a DPThe responsibility of a DP in commercial production—beyond “pretty images,” emphasizing leadership, communication, budgeting/negotiation, prep, and staying calm when lighting/composition fails.6 Jul 2026 · 25 min

All episodes

#87 - Nikita Khatsarevich - Pushing The Limits as a DPNikita Khatsarevich’s path to becoming a director of photography (DP), how he stays creative between work “waves,” and how he uses Unreal Engine plus small-camera rigs to plan and push camera…22 Jun 2026 · 45 min · 20 chapters

Open Session #1 - The Positive Impact of ChangeThe host reflects on starting a retainer client again and reframes it as positive change rather than “going backwards,” emphasizing mindset, creative ownership, and income stability.15 Jun 2026 · 12 min · 4 chapters

Open Session #2 - Being Open To ChangeWhat it really means to be a DP on commercial shoots—being open to change, leading people, negotiating budgets, prepping for limitations, and staying confident when lighting/composition fails.8 Jun 2026 · 25 min · 9 chapters

#86 - Alex Lopez - From Creative to Creative DirectorAlex Lopez discusses his shift from freelance creative work to creative director, moving from LA to New York to join Cadence, and how he builds a career through risk, obsession, and fast execution.31 Mar 2026 · 1 h 6 min · 30 chapters

#85 - Sam Snowden - Building a Creative AgencySam Snowden discusses building and running a creative agency while staying aligned with purpose, managing uncertainty in freelance work, and balancing ambition with mental health.24 Mar 2026 · 1 h 19 min · 33 chapters

#84 - LIFE OF RIZA - The Pursuit of Creative BalanceCreative balance for a filmmaker/YouTuber—using boundaries, time blocking, and “good enough” momentum to avoid burnout; balancing being “all in” without letting YouTube consume life; evolving from…17 Mar 2026 · 1 h 9 min · 34 chapters

#83 - Ryan Booth - Choosing Conviction Over ComfortRyan Booth discusses “choosing conviction over comfort” in filmmaking—how directors grow by pushing beyond their comfort zone, resisting “outsourcing” their creative opinion, and collaborating…10 Mar 2026 · 1 h 31 min · 32 chapters

#82 - Blaine Westropp - Your STYLE is the KEYBlaine Westropp discusses finding and evolving “style” as a cinematographer/DP, emphasizing that style is built through time, experimentation, objective self-review, and emotional intuition during…3 Mar 2026 · 1 h 29 min · 38 chapters

#81 - Matt Aitia - What It Really Takes to Make Your First Short FilmGoal-setting systems, YouTube consistency, identity beyond job titles, and the real-world process of making a first short film (from funding to directing actors and post-production compromises).27 Jan 2026 · 1 h 2 min · 27 chapters

#80 - Nica Fazio - A Film Career Built on Persistence & KindnessNica Fazio’s path into film lighting/grip, building relationships in a relationship-driven industry, and using social media and a community to support underrepresented women in crew roles.20 Jan 2026 · 59 min · 31 chapters

#79 – Adolpho Veloso, ABC, AIP – Cinematography Rooted in TrustAdolpho Veloso discusses cinematography “rooted in trust,” focusing on process, collaboration, decision-making, and adapting to constraints—especially through his experience on Train Dreams.13 Jan 2026 · 1 h 3 min · 20 chapters

#78 - Todd Banhazl, ASC. - Why Set Culture Creates Better WorkTodd Banhazl (ASC) discusses how “set culture” and leadership create safer, more creative environments that improve performance and cinematography.6 Jan 2026 · 1 h 8 min · 27 chapters

#77 - 5 Lessons I Learned From a Year of Conversations (2025)A year-end reflection episode compiling five recurring lessons the host learned from “Creative Gap Podcast” conversations throughout 2025, aimed at helping listeners enter 2026 with more readiness…29 Dec 2025 · 25 min · 9 chapters

#76 - ANGELICA STIGLIANO - A CONVERSATION ABOUT MARRIAGE, CAREERS & STABILITYAngelica Stigliano and her husband discuss marriage after ~1.5 years, how compromise and “togetherness” affect decision-making, and how career instability (freelance filmmaking/podcasting vs.16 Dec 2025 · 1 h 2 min · 21 chapters

#75 – Patrick Tomasso – Finding Yourself as a CreatorPatrick Tomasso discusses finding a sustainable creator identity, resisting “post constantly” pressure, and building longevity through quality, experimentation, and audience trust.9 Dec 2025 · 1 h 42 min · 37 chapters

#74 - Nicholas Bluff - The Creator of BLUFF BOUNCE & how curiosity shaped his career and business.Nicholas Bluff, a Copenhagen-to-Brazil cinematographer and entrepreneur, explains how parkour sparked his “in-the-moment” curiosity, how learning lighting as a language shaped his DP career, and how…24 Nov 2025 · 1 h 6 min · 22 chapters

#73 - Joshua Martin (Cine Dailies) - Staying Authentic While Building on YouTubeJoshua Martin (Cine Dailies) discusses building a sustainable filmmaking career while staying authentic on YouTube—covering his slow transition from videography to cinematography, how he chooses gear…6 Nov 2025 · 1 h 13 min · 31 chapters

#72 - Jakob Owens - Building Freedom as a FilmmakerEpisode #72 is a conversation with filmmaker/entrepreneur Jakob Owens about building freedom through creative ownership, avoiding “shiny object” entrepreneurship, and running businesses with trusted…20 Oct 2025 · 1 h 8 min · 18 chapters

#71 – George Kroeker & Ian Rodriguez: Redefining the Running DocumentaryGeorge Kroeker and Ian Rodriguez discuss making the running documentary Surrender, aiming to “redefine the running documentary” through a filmic, stylized approach (scenes, slow motion, ethereal…6 Oct 2025 · 1 h 18 min · 26 chapters

#70 - Akis Konstantakopoulos - Cinematographer of The ChosenAkis Konstantakopoulos (The Chosen cinematographer) discusses completing filming on Season 6 (86 days), the personal cost of long productions, and how the show’s scale and resources evolved.29 Sep 2025 · 1 h 7 min · 24 chapters