Cindy, Casey, and Erick dive deeper into who they are as filmmakers and why they founded the Desert Empire Filmmaker Foundation. From growing up obsessed with movies, to discovering filmmaking through theater, music, and indie sets, the team shares the real stories that shaped their creative paths.

They talk favorite films (Jurassic Park, Clockwork Orange, Hercules, Pan’s Labyrinth, Grease, Road to El Dorado… the list gets wild), early set experiences, and how building a filmmaking ecosystem in the Inland Empire became their shared mission.

The episode also covers breaking industry news, why Hollywood keeps shifting to new states, and why the Inland Empire is uniquely positioned as the next real filmmaking hub. Plus—festival updates, upcoming events, and a hilarious amount of movie-nerd chaos.

If you love filmmaking, community building, indie hustle, or just good vibes, this one’s for you.

Help us remove barriers for Inland Empire filmmakers.

Your donation fuels equipment access, workshops, screenings, and real opportunities:

👉 https://givebutter.com/DesertEmpireFilmmakerFoundation

In this episode of The Most DEFF Podcast, Casey and Vince introduce the Desert Empire Filmmaker Foundation (DEFF) and lay out a vision for a real film ecosystem in the Inland Empire. They talk about local film programs, why so many projects get stuck in post, how DEFF wants to help with permits, gear, mentorship, and festivals, and what it looks like to build a blue-collar, all-hands-on-deck filmmaking community outside of LA. If you’re a filmmaker in the IE, Coachella Valley, High Desert, or just “LA-adjacent,” this one’s for you.
It’s part podcast, part manifesto, part hangout — and all DEFF.

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✨ Subscribe to follow the journey, hear from rad guests, and plug into the DEFF-iverse.
🌐 Learn more about DEFF at def.foundation
📲 Follow us on IG: @desertempirefilmmaker

💌 Wanna collaborate? DM us or email at info@def.foundation

Support IE filmmakers: https://givebutter.com/DesertEmpireFilmmakerFoundation