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In this episode, Gian Carlo sits down with his father in his backyard in South Carolina, marking both his father's birthday and the recent release of his first book. What begins as a conversation about the book's origin unfolds into a much wider reckoning — early childhood trauma, a breakdown on the Garden State Parkway that became a turning point, a cross-state move made on faith rather than a plan, and the slow, hard-won shift from self-deprecation to self-critique. His father traces how leadership found him — through poverty, an unlikely mentor, and years of coaching youth soccer — long before he ever wrote about it, and unpacks the HEART framework at the center of his book: hope, empathy, authenticity, remembrance, and truth. The conversation turns personal as Gian Carlo shares the news that he and his wife are expecting, prompting a wide-ranging exchange on fatherhood, gratitude, the danger of tying self-worth to career or curated success, and what it means to separate who you are from what you do. It closes on the book's central message — that people matter — and a story about a childhood soccer ball that became a lesson in legacy. FOLLOW STEVEN ► (CLICK HERE) 2.5 BILLION HEARTBEATS (THE BOOK) ► (CLICK HERE)STEVENS INSTAGRAM ► (CLICK HERE) SUBSCRIBE ► https://www.youtube.com/@UC7fGr0b4pbFeVzwtDUYzEMA Switch to Musicbed and start your 14-day free trial today: https://musicbed.com/tcgp Sign up to Milanote for free with no time-limit: https://milanote.com/carlostigs Learn more about Nanlite & Nanlux Products: https://nanlite.com/ // https://www.nanlux.com/#/en ❤️ Enjoy the show? Rate us on Apple Podcasts & Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6yWlxm2ktUy9DFUbTi0jA8?si=d8b2250d259448c4 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-creative-gap/id1639440566 🤝 Follow The Podcast & Carlo!The Creative Gap: https://www.instagram.com/creativegap/ | https://www.youtube.com/@CreativeGapPodcastCarlo: https://www.instagram.com/carlostigs/ | ⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@carlostigs

Gian Carlo sits down with Jacopo Ficulle — an Italian filmmaker and colorist known as The Dormant Seed — for a deeply personal conversation about what it means to stop running from yourself and start creating from an honest place. Jacopo opens with the origin of his alias: after years of commercial filmmaking left him slowly hollowed out, losing four major clients at once forced him to finally listen to a quieter inner voice he'd long been suppressing. From there the two explore the camera as a form of meditation, the writing process born from twelve years of therapy and journaling, and how Jacopo's personal filmmaking is the deliberate opposite of his commercial work — less control, more presence, more truth. The conversation moves into people-pleasing, the paradox of needing isolation to recharge while also needing connection to feel alive, and the unexpected discovery that communal living in art residencies gave Jacopo what modern life never could. Both men reflect on family, older generations, and how sitting with yourself — uncomfortable and unfiltered — might be the most radical thing a creative person can do. The episode closes on Jacopo's simple hope for his work: that someone watches it, puts their phone down, and asks themselves what they actually feel.FOLLOW JACOPO ► https://www.instagram.com/thedormantseed/SUBSCRIBE ► https://www.youtube.com/@UC7fGr0b4pbFeVzwtDUYzEMA Switch to Musicbed and start your 14-day free trial today: https://musicbed.com/tcgpSign up to Milanote for free with no time-limit: https://milanote.com/carlostigsLearn more about Nanlite & Nanlux Products: https://nanlite.com/ // https://www.nanlux.com/#/en❤️ Enjoy the show? Rate us on Apple Podcasts & Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/6yWlxm2ktUy9DFUbTi0jA8?si=d8b2250d259448c4https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-creative-gap/id1639440566________________________________________🤝 Follow The Podcast & Carlo!The Creative Gap: https://www.instagram.com/creativegap/ | https://www.youtube.com/@CreativeGapPodcastCarlo: https://www.instagram.com/carlostigs/ | ⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@carlostigs

connect with me → ⁠https://www.carlostigliano.com/⁠follow me → ⁠https://www.instagram.com/carlostigs/⁠where i get my music → ⁠https://fm.pxf.io/carlostigsfreetrial⁠where i get my reference images → ⁠https://frameset.app/stills?via=giancarlo

In this episode, Gian Carlo sits down with Nikita Khatsarevich, a Ukrainian-born cinematographer now based in Warsaw, for an honest and wide-ranging conversation about building a creative career from the ground up. Nikita traces his path from a small industrial city in Zaporizhia — where he almost became a jazz trumpet player — to climbing every rung of the camera department starting at 16, driven by a simple philosophy: find work that doesn't feel like work. He opens up about the unglamorous in-between periods of a freelance career, the unpredictable waves of busy and quiet months he still can't explain after nine years in the industry, and how he's learned to fill those gaps with life rather than anxiety. The conversation moves through his use of Unreal Engine as a pre-production tool, his decision to build the Black Side community after not finding the cinematography resource hub he was looking for, and his upcoming leap into YouTube — something he admits had his hands shaking. Through it all, a recurring theme emerges: Nikita's creative restlessness, his drive to keep challenging himself technically and personally, and his belief that every commercial job is just a rep in the gym preparing him for something bigger.

connect with me → ⁠https://www.carlostigliano.com/⁠follow me → ⁠https://www.instagram.com/carlostigs/⁠where i get my music → ⁠https://fm.pxf.io/carlostigsfreetrial⁠where i get my reference images → ⁠https://frameset.app/stills?via=giancarlo

This conversation explores Alex Lopez’s journey into becoming a Creative Director through a mix of risk-taking, relentless work ethic, and deep-rooted perspective shaped by his upbringing as a first-generation American. He reflects on moving to New York, stepping into leadership at Cadence, and learning to “own” a title he never initially felt qualified for—highlighting how confidence is built through action, not permission. Alex emphasizes the importance of obsession over mere passion, the power of surrounding yourself with the right people, and the need to move quickly from idea to execution. He also breaks down what creative direction truly means: not just making things, but communicating vision, leading teams, balancing art with business, and staying grounded in personal experiences to create meaningful, original work. Ultimately, his mindset centers on urgency, gratitude, and understanding that nothing is guaranteed—so you have to show up every day ready to create, evolve, and lead. Switch to Musicbed and start your 14-day free trial today: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fm.pxf.io/tcgp-freetrial⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up to Milanote for free with no time-limit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://milanote.com/carlostigs⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about Nanlite & Nanlux Products: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://nanlite.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ // ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nanlux.com/#/en⁠⁠⁠ 🤝 Follow Alex ► ⁠https://www.instagram.com/alex.always/ 🤝 Creative Dir ► https://www.instagram.com/cadence/ 🤝 Follow The Podcast & Carlo! The Creative Gap: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/creativegap/⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CreativeGapPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ Carlo: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/carlostigs/⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@carlostigs⁠

This conversation with Sam Snowden dives into the evolving mindset of a creative navigating purpose, pressure, and identity in a saturated digital landscape. He reflects on how growing responsibilities and external expectations can distort your original “why,” emphasizing the importance of returning to your roots and creating for the younger version of yourself. The discussion explores the unpredictability of freelance life, the danger of relying on external validation, and the need to build self-assurance through things beyond work—like relationships, fitness, and lived experience. Sam highlights the balance between ambition and not being consumed by your craft, reframing obsession as consistent curiosity rather than burnout. Ultimately, the conversation centers on taking action (“create more”), embracing failure as a necessary part of growth, and defining success on your own terms rather than through comparison or metrics. Switch to Musicbed and start your 14-day free trial today: ⁠⁠⁠https://fm.pxf.io/tcgp-freetrial⁠⁠⁠ Sign up to Milanote for free with no time-limit: ⁠⁠⁠https://milanote.com/carlostigs⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about Nanlite & Nanlux Products: ⁠⁠⁠https://nanlite.com/⁠⁠⁠ // ⁠⁠⁠https://www.nanlux.com/#/en⁠⁠ 🤝 Follow Sam ► https://www.instagram.com/samsnowden 🤝 Subscribe ► ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@samsnowden⁠ 🤝 Follow The Podcast & Carlo! The Creative Gap: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/creativegap/⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CreativeGapPodcast⁠⁠⁠ Carlo: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/carlostigs/⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@carlostigs⁠

In this conversation, Kariza Santos reflects on her journey as a filmmaker and YouTube creator, discussing the realities of building a creative career while trying to maintain balance in life. She shares how freelancing, experimentation, and years of learning eventually led her to develop a cinematic storytelling style on YouTube, while also navigating the constant pressure to produce content in a fast-moving digital space. Kariza talks about the importance of structure, boundaries, and time-blocking to avoid burnout, as well as the role of mentorship, collaboration, and community in helping creators grow. Ultimately, she emphasizes that creativity is a long-term pursuit built on persistence, curiosity, and self-awareness—encouraging creators to focus less on algorithms or perfection and more on finding their voice, continuing to learn, and creating work they’re genuinely proud of. Switch to Musicbed and start your 14-day free trial today: ⁠⁠https://fm.pxf.io/tcgp-freetrial⁠⁠ Sign up to Milanote for free with no time-limit: ⁠⁠https://milanote.com/carlostigs⁠⁠ Learn more about Nanlite & Nanlux Products: ⁠⁠https://nanlite.com/⁠⁠ // ⁠⁠https://www.nanlux.com/#/en⁠ 🤝 Follow Kariza ► ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/lifeofriza 🤝 Subscribe ► https://www.youtube.com/lifeofriza 🤝 Follow The Podcast & Carlo! The Creative Gap: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/creativegap/⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CreativeGapPodcast⁠⁠ Carlo: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/carlostigs/⁠⁠ | ⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@carlostigs⁠

Ryan Booth shares an honest and deeply thoughtful look at what it actually means to grow as a filmmaker. From breaking out of the commercial “box” that once defined him to directing his first feature "Stages" after an eight-year journey, Ryan unpacks the tension between comfort and conviction — and what each stage of his career demanded of him. He reflects on moving from DP to commercial director to narrative filmmaker, learning to take full ownership of a vision, and collaborating without losing authority. This conversation explores leadership, vulnerability, agency politics, intuition, and the endurance required to bring a feature to life. At its core, it’s about the courage to stop trying to make everyone happy and instead stand firmly behind your voice — embracing the reality that the chaos and uncertainty never disappear, they simply evolve as you do. Switch to Musicbed and start your 14-day free trial today: ⁠https://fm.pxf.io/tcgp-freetrial⁠ Sign up to Milanote for free with no time-limit: ⁠https://milanote.com/carlostigs⁠ Learn more about Nanlite & Nanlux Products: ⁠https://nanlite.com/⁠ // ⁠https://www.nanlux.com/#/en 🤝 Follow Ryan ► ⁠https://www.instagram.com/ryanbooth/ 🤝 Follow The Podcast & Carlo! The Creative Gap: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/creativegap/⁠ | ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CreativeGapPodcast⁠ Carlo: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/carlostigs/⁠ | ⁠ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@carlostigs⁠

In this episode, Blaine Westrup reflects on the slow, earned process of finding your style as a filmmaker and the confidence that only comes through time, failure, and self-critique. He shares pivotal on-set struggles that shaped his growth, the tension between ownership and collaboration as a DP, and the importance of culture, energy, and “vibe time” on set. Blaine dives into risk—both financial and creative—and how saying “yes” more often changed his trajectory. He speaks candidly about YouTube as a creative logbook rather than an algorithm game, the discipline required to survive the highs and lows of freelance life, and why stepping away from the camera can sharpen your voice. Ultimately, his definition of success isn’t fame or money, but an inner calm—a grounded confidence in the direction he’s walking and the life he’s building beyond just the frame. Switch to Musicbed and start your 14-day free trial today: https://fm.pxf.io/tcgp-freetrial Sign up to Milanote for free with no time-limit: https://milanote.com/carlostigs Learn more about Nanlite & Nanlux Products: https://nanlite.com/ // https://www.nanlux.com/#/en 🤝 Follow Blaine ► https://www.instagram.com/wstrpp/ Subscribe to Blaine ► https://www.youtube.com/@BlaineWestropp1 🤝 Follow The Podcast & Carlo! The Creative Gap: https://www.instagram.com/creativegap/ | https://www.youtube.com/@CreativeGapPodcast Carlo: https://www.instagram.com/carlostigs/ | ⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@carlostigs

In this episode of The Creative Gap Podcast, filmmaker and YouTuber Matt Aitia opens up about risk, identity, and the long road toward creative ownership. The conversation begins with a reflection on resilience, patience, and betting on yourself when there are no guarantees. Matt breaks down his approach to goal-setting, consistency on YouTube, and why process matters more than surface-level metrics. He shares how stepping away from steady lighting work forced him to confront fear, redefine success, and rebuild his identity beyond job titles. A major focus of the episode is his short film Get Up, Try Again—from self-funding and committing real money, to directing for the first time, navigating anxiety, post-production setbacks, and learning when to “kill your darlings.” Together, the conversation explores mentorship, networking as relationship-building (not transactions), the emotional cost of creative transitions, and why sustainability—not status—is the real measure of success. It’s an honest look at what it means to keep creating, even when certainty disappears. JOIN CIVA COLLECTIVE ► https://www.civacollective.com/ WATCH TRAIN GET UP, TRY AGAIN ON YOUTUBE ► https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ho6585isjY Follow Us! Matt Aitia:  ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠ Carlo: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Creative Gap:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠ ____________________________________________________ ⚙️ GEAR USED TO MAKE THIS PODCAST: Rodecaster Pro II:⁠⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/3RluSeV⁠⁠⁠ Rode Podmic:⁠⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/3RpaR77⁠⁠⁠ Mic Stand:⁠⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/4caJUfi⁠⁠⁠ Camera 1:⁠⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/45h5E7b⁠⁠⁠ Camera 2:⁠⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/45g8iKx⁠⁠⁠ Light:⁠⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/3KK6XSt⁠

In this episode, Nica Fazio shares a grounded and honest look at what it truly takes to grow in the film industry. After moving from another country to New York, she reflects on the non-linear reality of building a career on set—navigating visas, cultural shifts, and the challenge of starting from zero in an unfamiliar industry. Rather than relying on shortcuts or titles, Nica’s path has been shaped by persistence, curiosity, and showing up with humility. Alongside her growth as a working grip and electric, she has also built an authentic presence on social media, using it as a tool to share her experiences, educate, and encourage others. Through this visibility, Nica has become an inspiration to many women around the world, showing that a career in film—especially in technical departments—is not only possible, but attainable. Her story is a powerful reminder that film careers are built slowly, through kindness, trust, and the courage to keep going when the path isn’t clear. JOIN CIVA COLLECTIVE ► https://www.civacollective.com/ USE THE CODE: TCG20 TO RECEIVE 20% OFF "THE FOUNDATION" MEMBERSHIP Follow Us! Nica Fazio:  ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Community Instagram Carlo: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Creative Gap:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠ ____________________________________________________ ⚙️ GEAR USED TO MAKE THIS PODCAST: Rodecaster Pro II:⁠⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/3RluSeV⁠⁠⁠ Rode Podmic:⁠⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/3RpaR77⁠⁠⁠ Mic Stand:⁠⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/4caJUfi⁠⁠⁠ Camera 1:⁠⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/45h5E7b⁠⁠⁠ Camera 2:⁠⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/45g8iKx⁠⁠⁠ Light:⁠⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/3KK6XSt⁠

In this episode of The Creative Gap, cinematographer Adolpho Veloso reflects on the long arc of a creative career—moving from instinct and innocence to experience, restraint, and trust. Through stories from Train Dreams, he shares how embracing limitations, trusting instinct, and reconnecting with early creative innocence helped him find freedom again—both on set and in life. This episode explores how growth as a DP is deeply tied to growth as a human—learning patience, accepting imperfection, and understanding that the film is always bigger than any single decision or mistake (you make). The conversation explores choosing projects with intention, leading through calm and collaboration, navigating limitations as creative fuel, and redefining success beyond technical perfection. At its core, this episode is about presence: on set, in relationships, and in life. This episode is less about how to shoot a film and more about how to live alongside the work without losing yourself in the process. JOIN CIVA COLLECTIVE ► https://www.civacollective.com/ WATCH TRAIN DREAMS ON NETFLIX ► https://www.netflix.com/title/82020378 Follow Us! Adolpho Veloso, ABC, AIP:  ⁠⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠⁠Website⁠ Carlo: ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠ The Creative Gap:⁠⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠ ⁠Youtube⁠⁠ ____________________________________________________ ⚙️ GEAR USED TO MAKE THIS PODCAST: Rodecaster Pro II:⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/3RluSeV⁠⁠ Rode Podmic:⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/3RpaR77⁠⁠ Mic Stand:⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/4caJUfi⁠⁠ Camera 1:⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/45h5E7b⁠⁠ Camera 2:⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/45g8iKx⁠⁠ Light:⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/3KK6XSt⁠

In this episode, Todd Banhazl reflects on cinematography as both a craft and a place of meaning, emphasizing that a DP’s real responsibility goes far beyond the image—it’s about creating a safe, trusting, and energized environment where people can do their best work. He and Carlo talk through leadership learned by failing and repairing, why attitude and emotional awareness matter as much as talent, and how early alignment with directors and departments prevents creative conflict later on. They explore the tension between saying yes out of fear versus curating projects with intention, the shifting definition of “independent film” in a streaming-driven industry, and the importance of protecting taste, patience, and process in a culture that moves too fast. The conversation closes with a grounded perspective on joy and priorities, as Todd shares how fatherhood and family have reshaped how he chooses work—and clarified which projects are truly worth the time and energy they demand. JOIN CIVA COLLECTIVE ► https://www.civacollective.com/ USE THE CODE: TCG20 TO RECEIVE 20% OFF "THE FOUNDATION" MEMBERSHIP Follow Us! Todd Banhazl, ASC.:  ⁠⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠⁠Website⁠ Carlo: ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠ The Creative Gap:⁠⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠ ⁠Youtube⁠⁠ ____________________________________________________ ⚙️ GEAR USED TO MAKE THIS PODCAST: Rodecaster Pro II:⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/3RluSeV⁠⁠ Rode Podmic:⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/3RpaR77⁠⁠ Mic Stand:⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/4caJUfi⁠⁠ Camera 1:⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/45h5E7b⁠⁠ Camera 2:⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/45g8iKx⁠⁠ Light:⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/3KK6XSt⁠

This last episode of 2025 is really just me taking a breath and looking back. All year, I’ve had the chance to sit across from people I genuinely admire and listen to their stories — not just the wins, but the doubts, the fear, the growing pains, and the parts of their lives they don’t always share publicly. Without realizing it at first, those conversations started shaping how I see my own life and the way I want to move into this next year. What stood out to me was how similar the lessons were, even though everyone’s path looked different: there’s no linear road, only commitment; kindness matters more than we think; sustainability beats burnout; fear never really leaves, but experience teaches you how to keep going anyway; and at the end of it all, people matter more than projects. This episode isn’t about having it all figured out — it’s about recognizing where we are right now, finding peace in the process, and reminding ourselves that if we’re stepping into a new year feeling unsure, tired, or hopeful but unclear, we’re not behind. We’re just starting again. JOIN CIVA COLLECTIVE ► https://www.civacollective.com/ USE THE CODE: TCG20 TO RECEIVE 20% OFF "THE FOUNDATION" MEMBERSHIP Carlo: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Website⁠⁠ The Creative Gap:⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠ |⁠ ⁠Youtube⁠⁠ ____________________________________________________ ⚙️ GEAR USED TO MAKE THIS PODCAST: Rodecaster Pro II: ⁠https://amzn.to/3RluSeV⁠ Rode Podmic: ⁠https://amzn.to/3RpaR77⁠ Mic Stand: ⁠https://amzn.to/4caJUfi⁠ Camera 1: ⁠https://amzn.to/45h5E7b⁠ Camera 2: ⁠https://amzn.to/45g8iKx⁠ Light: ⁠https://amzn.to/3KK6XSt⁠