Nerdly » The Filmmaker’s Podcast #454: Waypoint Entertainment’s Ken Kao

02nd Jun2025

The Filmmaker’s Podcast #454: Waypoint Entertainment’s Ken Kao

by Phil Wheat

Here’s the latest episode of The Filmmakers Podcast, part of the podcast roster here on Nerdly. If you haven’t heard the show yet, you can check out previous episodes on the official podcast site, whilst we’ll be featuring each and every new episode as it premieres.

For those unfamiliar with the series, The Filmmakers Podcast is a podcast about how to make films from micro-budget indie films to bigger-budget studio films and everything in between. Our hosts Giles Alderson, Dom Lenoir, Dan Richardson, Andrew Rodger and Cristian James talk about how to get films made, how to actually make them and how to try not to f… it up in their very humble opinion. Guests will come on and chat about their filmmaking experiences from directors, writers, producers and screenwriters, to actors, cinematographers and distributors.

The Filmmaker’s Podcast #454: Waypoint Entertainment’s Ken Kao on Producing Hollywood Movies with Ryan Gosling from The Favourite to The Nice Guys

This week, Giles Alderson is absolutely thrilled to be joined by one of the most influential and respected producers in independent cinema today: the visionary Ken Kao! As the co-founder and President of Waypoint Entertainment, Ken Kao has been the driving force behind an incredible slate of diverse and thought-provoking films and has recently formed a strategic partnership with the acclaimed distributor Neon. Join Giles and Ken as they delve into the intricate world of film producing. We’ll be discussing the art of identifying compelling stories, the challenges of navigating financing and distribution in the independent sector (especially with Waypoint’s recent partnership with Neon), the collaborative process with visionary directors and talented casts like Ryan Gosling, and Ken’s philosophy on fostering creativity while bringing ambitious projects to fruition. This is an unmissable conversation for anyone aspiring to produce, passionate about independent film, or simply curious about the crucial role of a producer in shaping cinematic masterpieces. Let’s welcome the extraordinary Ken Kao to The Filmmakers Podcast!