You are not gonna make it.
Join Emmy-nominated filmmaker Nico Casavecchia as he meets with successful people to debunk their perfect professional lives in a quest to find out what “making it” really means.
EPISODES
WhEN THE WORK STOPS, DON’T PANIC.
with ORAN ZEGMAN
Nico sits down with Oran Zegman, the director of HONOR SOCIETY, to discuss how seeing other people with boundaries can open your eyes to your own weaknesses, how directing can be one of the loneliest ventures, and more candid confessions from Zegman's personal on-set experiences.
YNGM Proof of life.
with hELEN FERNANDEZ
In this week’s episode of "You Are Not Gonna Make It - Proof of Life," Nico and Helen are back, catching up on what’s been going on in their crazy creative lives. From movies that left us traumatised to TV shows we finally gave another shot. Plus, we get into the nitty-gritty of what it’s like to juggle big dreams with the everyday grind, all while keeping it real about the ups and downs of being in the biz.
EPISODES
HOW TO KEEP YOUR COURAGE.
with GABRIELA ORTEGA
Gabriela Ortega is anything but a "has been," which is what she was terrified of becoming if she didn't achieve Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana fame by the age of 14. Nico and Gabriela are creative collaborators. Ortega starred in Nico's horror comedy, BORDER HOPPER, which premiered at Sundance in 2024 to rave reviews. Ortega walks us through imposter syndrome, the experience of being an immigrant, and her background in acting, which is cathartic for both Ortega and whoever listens to this wonderful episode.
MADE BY
Host
NICO CASAVECCHIA
Nico Casavecchia is an Emmy Nominated director, screenwriter and illustrator based in Los Angeles. His work has been featured by the BBC, New York Times, Indi Wire and Wired among other media outlets. Nico’s first feature film, Finding Sofía premiered at the Austin Film Festival. BattleScar, his virtual reality film starring Rosario Dawson premiered at Sundance 2018, and his new short film “Border Hopper” was selected by the 2024 Sundance Film Festival for the US Competition. Nico is currently working on Momoguro, a multi-platform franchise he co-created with Martín Allais and developed with award winning studio Baobab.
producer
Helen Fernandez is a Mexican comedy writer who was raised between the U.S. and Mexico. She often feels trapped between two cultures: her Mexican culture and her American side. Today, she embraces her identity crisis and channels it into her writing by telling stories about unconventional women, complex family dynamics, and the occasional surrealist comedy. The University of Texas at Austin graduate was selected for the NBCU TV Writer's Launch program, which prepares writers to be staffed on scripted series with the long-term goal of developing the next generation of showrunners. Currently, Helen is a staff writer on "Happy's Place," starring Reba McEntire and Belissa Escobedo, which airs on NBC in October 2024. In addition to her writing pursuits, Helen produces and directs a monthly comedy sketch show called SINGLE RIDERS ONLY, which is inspired by her chaotic dating life and it has sold out every time.