354 - Indie Talk feat. Director & Podcaster Andrea Shreeman - Lessons and Realities of Converging Filmmaking, Storytelling, and Podcasting

Hello, Hello! 

Andrea Shreeman, co-Host of The Hero Maker podcast joins the MAKE IT podcast to discuss The Hero Maker podcast https://www.theheromakerpodcast.com/, a true crime podcast telling the story of her friends who were murdered in college and the ripple effects it had. Andrea shares how the podcast has brought healing while exploring the case and positive reforms it may help facilitate. Listeners learn about Andrea's perseverance in sharing this important story and refusal to give up, even when the project took different forms.

 

Topics discussed:

- Andrea's background and film/TV credits

- The inspiration and creation of the Hero Maker podcast 

- Challenges in developing the story as a TV show and pivoting to a podcast

- Details of the unsolved double-murder case of her friends in college

- Impact of trauma and how it affects more than just immediate family/friends

- Andrea's persistence in telling this story through different mediums

- Potential for a $2 million grant coming from the podcast's impact

- Andrea's future projects: feature films and teaching courses

 

Enjoy!

 

Questions answered in this episode:

 How did The Hero Maker podcast come to be after initially being developed as a TV show? What are the details around the college murders of Andrea's friends that inspired the podcast? How has the podcast aimed to make a positive impact beyond just telling the story?

 

About Andrea: 

Andrea has helped bring 11 narrative feature films and 4 documentary features to completion in various professional capacities, including as an Executive Producer on FUEL which won the Audience Award for Best Documentary at Sundance. She is a Founding Executive for Mobile Magic Studios, a one minute movie studio that sold five series into distribution. Her script, Chewtopia was a finalist in Women in Media's Camaraderie Film Development Program.

Andrea started in network television, with two years on The Nanny, two years on Daddy Dearest and one season on Rockstar INXS for CBS. She has written and directed films, campaigns, commercials, music videos and live streams all revolving around relevant themes for social growth including; domestic violence, addiction, climate change and mental health awareness.

Summary:

This episode of the MAKE IT Podcast features Andrea Shreeman, creator and co-host of The Hero Maker podcast. The Hero Maker podcast tells the true story of the murders of Andrea's friends in college and the impact it had on their community.

Andrea shared how the story began as a potential TV show but pivoted to a podcast during the pandemic. Through two seasons, the podcast has focused on honoring the victims and exploring the ripple effects of such a tragic event. The hosts interview people directly involved like investigators, attorneys, and family members to get a full perspective.

The podcast aims to leave a positive impact beyond just telling the story. Andrea was moved that the podcast could help facilitate such meaningful change.

While true crime stories can celebrate the criminal, The Hero Maker podcast lifts up the real people affected. Nick appreciated how it shows the vast network impacted by even one violent crime. Andrea wants to use her platform to spread healing and understanding for all touched by such trauma.

Through perseverance, The Hero Maker podcast is finding an engaged audience and making a difference. For anyone with an important story to share, Andrea's example shows the impact that can come from refusing to give up.

 

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The MAKE IT podcast amplifies the voice of the filmmaker by exploring the filmmaking journeys of actors, writers, directors, producers, and a host of other creatives from across the film industry. We provide a platform for filmmakers to provide advice, lessons learned, personal reflections, tips, tricks, and insights through our Filmmaker Conversations, Mistakes in the Making, Industry Insights, Indie Talks, and Film Investment Series. We are the go-to film podcast for independent creatives!