With the ongoing backlash against DEI. I think it’s going to be a tough road for real representation in the greater film industry. But I think a lot more writers, filmmakers and creatives are going to embrace independence.
The Future of Diversity in Film
The Way Ahead Lies in Independence
Feb 07, 2025

The Blended Future Podcast
A podcast about identity, storytelling, and building creative work that lasts. Hosted by filmmaker and creative strategist Maris Lidaka, each episode explores the spaces in-between — the in-between of culture, memory, race, and creativity.
This is a slow media studio journal:
• Audio essays
• Behind-the-scenes reflections
• Lessons from filmmaking and storytelling across the world
• Creative systems for staying grounded in a chaotic industry
Whether we’re talking about building an archive, filming in LA, or what it means to be mixed in America — this is a space for stories that outlast trends.
If you care about creativity, culture, or telling better stories — this is for you.
→ New episodes twice a month
→ Subscribe to the newsletter at marislidaka.substack.com
A podcast about identity, storytelling, and building creative work that lasts. Hosted by filmmaker and creative strategist Maris Lidaka, each episode explores the spaces in-between — the in-between of culture, memory, race, and creativity.
This is a slow media studio journal:
• Audio essays
• Behind-the-scenes reflections
• Lessons from filmmaking and storytelling across the world
• Creative systems for staying grounded in a chaotic industry
Whether we’re talking about building an archive, filming in LA, or what it means to be mixed in America — this is a space for stories that outlast trends.
If you care about creativity, culture, or telling better stories — this is for you.
→ New episodes twice a month
→ Subscribe to the newsletter at marislidaka.substack.comListen on
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