#31 Lights, Camera, Resilience: The Rise of Will La Salle in Indie Film

In this inspiring and eye-opening episode of The Padernacht Podcast: Brick by Brick, we sit down with Will La Salle, Bronx-born filmmaker, storyteller, and founder of LaSalle Productions. From his early years growing up in the Bronx to becoming a self-taught director whose films have been featured on Fox 5, Fox 35 Orlando, and platforms across New York, Will shares a powerful story of passion, perseverance, and purpose.

Will opens up about how he went from working as a School Safety Agent and NYC Correction Officer to buying $10,000 worth of camera equipment he didn’t yet know how to use. With no formal film school training, he taught himself everything — eventually producing seven films in seven years, including The Veteran, The Security Guard, Hilo, and more. His work has brought opportunities to local actors, highlighted Bronx and Yonkers culture, and opened doors for independent creatives across the region.

Steven and Will dive deep into the discipline it takes to start from zero, the importance of staying obsessed with your craft, and how childhood, community, and life experiences shaped Will’s storytelling. They explore the grind behind independent filmmaking and the responsibility of creating platforms for others who never saw themselves represented in media.

They discuss:

🎬 How Will transitioned from law enforcement to filmmaking
 🔥 Why obsession, discipline, and passion drive creative success
 🏙️ Putting the Bronx and Yonkers on the independent film map
 📽️ The making of “The Veteran,” “The Security Guard,” and the “Hilo” series
 💼 Collaborations with Lionsgate’s Great Point Studios and Mayor Mike Spano
 ⭐ How Will creates opportunities for local talent and underserved communities
 🎤 The moment Bret “The Hitman” Hart recognized his work

This episode is more than a conversation — it’s a testament to what’s possible when you bet on yourself, stay committed, and build a legacy one frame, one story, and one brick at a time.

🎧 Tune in for an inspiring, creative, and deeply motivating conversation about art, identity, purpose, and perseverance.

🔗 Connect with Will LaSalle:
 🌐 Website: https://www.lasalleproductions.com
 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/l_a_s_a_l_l_e_____/?hl=en 

🎙️ Host: Steven Padernacht
 🎥 Produced by: Cai Vision Productions

🎙️ Subscribe to The Padernacht Podcast: Brick by Brick for more inspiring stories of real people creating impact and building a better future — one brick at a time.