Reel Wisdom with Derek Diamond

In this special Halloween edition of the podcast, Derek is joined by returning guests Jason Robbins, Wally Phelps and Joey Image to discuss one of the most influential horror films of all time - Scream.

They talk about the hype leading up to its release in 1996, how it reinvented the horror genre, some of their favorite moments from the film, and if it would have the same impact if were released today.

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Bill Mikita is the writer and producer of the movie “Chasing 3000.” Based on the true story of Bill and his brother’s cross-country trip to see Roberto Clemente get his 3,000th base hit, the story of how a career lawyer became a Hollywood writer and film producer is nothing less than inspiring.

Bill joins the show to chat with Derek about what led to “Chasing 3000” becoming a reality, how Ray Liotta became involved and how ...

Jessica Mikayla has an impressive resume that includes projects for Disney+, FX, Showtime, Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Netflix and more. She has been nominated for a 2024 NAACP Image Award and recently won a 2023 SOVAS Award. Both as a theatrical and voice over actor, Jessica is one of the leading up and coming talents in the industry.

Jessica joins the show to chat with Derek about how an episode of “Full House” inspired her to bec...

Sarah Alexandra Marks was born in Essex. She first trained as a dancer going on to perform at prestigious venues, most notably The Royal Opera House. She transitioned to screen acting and quickly began racking up an impressive list of Film credits with notable artists and directors.

Sarah joins the show to chat with Derek about falling in love with the entertainment industry at an early age, the transition from dancing to acting...

Andy Paige is an actress, beauty expert, inventor and spokesperson. With her current role as Pearl, on ABC’s General Hospital, Andy Paige mimics her actual QVC guest host expertise, captivating and selling products to both TV audiences through innovative consumer advertising.

Andy joins the show to chat with Derek about how growing up in a small Alabama town shaped her into who she is today, moving to New York at a young age, ho...

George Siegal is a former newscaster, sportscaster, and weathercaster. After his career, he transitioned into the world of filmmaking and formed the documentary film company Move the World Films, Inc. He wrote, directed and produced the award-winning documentary films “The Last House Standing” and “License to Parent.”

George joins the show to chat with Derek about the unpredictability of independent filmmaking, how he transition...

Evan Zeisel is a filmmaker, entrepreneur and the co-founder of Copyright Slap, a system which helps independent artists fight piracy by providing an affordable way for creators to protect their work.

Evan chats with Derek about what led him to the film industry, his first experience with online piracy and how that led to the creation of Copyright Slap. He also talks about how simply watching indie films on streaming platforms ca...

Robert Sciglimpaglia is a Certified Worker’s Compensation Specialist by the Connecticut Bar Association and is admitted to Connecticut and New York, and also the United States Supreme Court. In addition to the practice of law, Robert is also a professional actor and voice-over artist and is a member of SAG-AFTRA.

Robert chats with Derek about why he loves to practice law, how law is intertwined into every aspect of human society...

Aurora Winter, MBA, is a successful entrepreneur, bestselling author, TV writer-producer and the founder of www.SamePagePublishing.com. Using her expertise in film and neuroscience, she helps people tell memorable stories that build brands, books, and businesses.

Aurora chats with Derek about her early career as a film producer, her passion for helping aspiring writers, and why it’s a good idea to turn a screenplay into a book. ...

Kurtz Frausun is a four time award-winning experimental filmmaker. He's a graduate of Southern Methodist University, a member of the International Association of Press Photographers, and founder of Versus Opinion Clothing.

Kurtz chats with Derek about growing up on classic films, how those led to his pursuit of filmmaking, and their mutual respect for different film styles. They also discuss how an abusive relationship motivated...

Jeffrey Morgan is a documentary filmmaker. Born in California and raised in Alaska, Jeffrey made fifteen short films before finishing high school and with the financial assistance from his Native American tribe, the Fallon Paiute, he graduated from NYU’s Kanbar Institute of Film and Television in 1999. His debut documentary feature “Lillie & Leander: A Legacy of Violence” world premiered at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival to muc...

Jonathan Miller is the founder and CEO of Parsonex Enterprises and its affiliates. A visionary financial professional with over two decades of experience, he has guided Parsonex to be recognized as one of the fastest-growing companies in North America.

Not content to rest on his laurels in finance, Jonathan has also ventured into the entertainment sector. His debut feature film, "Publish or Perish," produced through Alation Medi...

Joe R. Lansdale is an author and screenwriter who has written novels and stories in many genres, including western, horror, science fiction, mystery, and suspense. He has also written for comics as well as "Batman: The Animated Series." He chats with Derek about how film and comics influence his work, his writing process, and his unique view on screenwriting. He also talks about the process of his work being adapted for film and te...

Alex Hyde-White is an actor who is known for his roles in "Pretty Woman", "Catch Me if You Can", and the infamous unreleased "Fantastic Four". He sits down with Derek in studio to talk about why he moved from Los Angeles to Pensacola, the early days of his acting career, and their time working together on "The Walker". They also discuss Alex's "Three Days of Hamlet" documentary, how he became involved in Roger Corman's "Fantastic F...

As we approach the launch of "Reel Wisdom", Derek looks back at an episode of the "Feature Presentation" podcast:

Actor Jackie Dallas joins the show to chat with Derek about why she chose being an actor over working in the medical field, and lessons she's learned throughout her career. She also talks about why she wrote and directed her short film "Proud," her experience on set of "Stranger Things," and advice for aspiring actor...

As we approach the launch of "Reel Wisdom", Derek looks back at an episode of the "Feature Presentation" podcast:

Executive Producer Terissa Kelton joins the show to chat with Derek about what made her want to work in the film industry, why using your work as therapy is a good thing, working on the "Harriet the Spy" animated series for Apple TV +, and why it's important to "pay it forward" in the entertainment business.

NOTE:...

As we approach the launch of "Reel Wisdom", Derek looks back at an episode of the "Feature Presentation" podcast:

Visual FX Producer Zach Hamelton joins the show to chat with Derek about what made him want to work in the film industry, the differences between "visible" and "invisible" effects, a day in the life of a Visual FX team, and his experiences working on "Star Trek: Picard" and "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds."

NOTE: T...

As we approach the launch of "Reel Wisdom", Derek looks back at an episode of the "Feature Presentation" podcast:

Filmmaker Jeff Bollow joins the show to chat with Derek about what made him want to get into the film industry, transitioning from acting to working behind the camera, and his "FAST Screenplay" system, why it's important to have alignment in the creative and business sides of filmmaking, and his future aspirations of...