Beyond The Take

About Beyond The Take

Beyond The Take is your all-access pass to the stories behind the scenes. Hosted by actor and producer Marc Chouen alongside co-host Michael J Puddy, this bi-weekly podcast pulls back the curtain on the entertainment industry — from actors and casting directors to producers, writers, and the dreamers in between. Whether you’re an aspiring artist, a working pro, or just obsessed with the grind behind the glamor, you’ll hear unfiltered conversations, insider truths, and what it really takes to make it in Hollywood and beyond. Because when the take ends…the real story begins.

Publisher

Beyond The Take

Category

tv & film

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

19 Jun 2025

Latest episode

30 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

21 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   30 Oct 2026

   Making an Independent Film Without Losing Creative Control | Otoja Abit

   Otoja Abit joins Beyond The Take to discuss his journey from acting and Broadway to independent filmmaking, including the 13-year road to bringing Veronica & Julian to the screen. He breaks down: raising money for indie films protecting creative control crowdfunding and private investors the changing distribution landscape his first feature being acquired by Netflix why film festivals still matter what it takes to keep going when a project takes years A candid look at the business, persistence, and compromises behind independent filmmaking. Plus bonus clips from the Bushwick Film Festival!

2. 

   28 Aug 2026

   What It Really Takes to Produce on Broadway | Cody Lassen

   What does it actually take to produce a Broadway show and where does the money come from? Producer Cody Lassen joins Beyond The Take to break down how Broadway projects get funded, how he builds relationships with investors, and why raising money is only a fraction of a producer’s job. He also discusses the risks of Broadway, common mistakes inexperienced producers make, his move into film, and selling his latest film Actual Nobodies at Cannes.

3. 

   31 Jul 2026

   The Fi-Core Debate and the Future of SAG-AFTRA | Austin Highsmith Garces

   Why are more actors considering Fi-Core, and what could they lose by leaving union jurisdiction? Austin Highsmith Garces joins Beyond The Take to discuss: SAG-AFTRA’s new vertical short-form agreement The risks of going Fi-Core Pension, health, residuals, and performer protections Misinformation surrounding union contracts Streaming, indie film, and the current acting economy Why artists may be entering a new era of creative control Austin serves on multiple SAG-AFTRA committees and helped develop the union’s vertical short-form contract.

Who has been a guest on Beyond The Take

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Sibyl Santiago
• Jaime Zevallos
• Sherman Augustus
• David B Jacobs
• Michael J Puddy

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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