The holidays can be beautiful. They can also be lonely, tender, complicated—and quietly revealing.

In this solo episode, I reflect on what the holiday season tends to bring to the surface: longing, grief, connection, memory, and meaning. I talk about spending my first Christmas without both of my parents, about chosen family and evolving traditions, and about what it means to move through this season as both an artist and a human being.

Rather than offering platitudes or forced cheer, this episode takes a grounded, compassionate look at the holidays as a kind of mirror—one that reflects who we are, what we value, and what we’re still carrying. We explore art as sanctuary, sensitivity as strength, and the possibility of belonging even when life feels unresolved.

Whether this season feels joyful, quiet, heavy, or somewhere in between, this conversation is an invitation to slow down, tell the truth gently, and make space for what’s real.

You’re welcome here, exactly as you are.

In this episode of At the Vanguard, host Christopher Lloyd Bratten-Zappala sits down with Caden Douglas — writer, director, producer, and instructor at Bad Pitch Writers Lab — for an honest, wide-ranging conversation about the craft of writing and the realities of making work in today’s film industry.

Caden shares his journey from a childhood acting career in Canada to becoming a writer-director in Los Angeles, including why he walked away from acting and what ultimately pulled him toward writing and directing. Together, we explore why writing is uniquely difficult, what aspiring writers often misunderstand about the craft, and why simplicity, clarity, and emotional truth matter more than cleverness.

The conversation also dives into Caden’s feature film Mother Father Sister Brother Frank, a dark comedy about family, secrecy, and the strange ways truth can bring people together. Caden breaks down the film’s central metaphor, the risks of directing his own script, the creative compromises of low-budget filmmaking, and what it’s like to live with the gap between the movie you imagine and the one that actually exists.

Along the way, we discuss:

• Writing as a craft vs. writing as an identity

• Teaching writing through community rather than dogma

• Moral responsibility in storytelling

• Gatekeeping, merit, and the myth that “anyone can write”

• AI, authorship, and why some creative work should remain human

• Why Los Angeles is more collaborative than its reputation suggests

This is a thoughtful, candid conversation for writers, filmmakers, and artists who care about doing the work — and doing it with integrity.

Watch Mother Father Sister Brother Frank Available on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, and YouTube. https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/mother-father-sister-brother-frank/umc.cmc.6p29v4il6mlz0hk4kio32qle8

littleBULL Productions: https://littlebullproductions.com/

Learn more about Bad Pitch Writers Lab A writer-focused community offering ongoing labs and classes for writers at all levels. https://www.badpitchwriterslab.com/

Art is born from freedom—but artists don’t create in isolation. We collaborate, perform, teach, and share vulnerable spaces with others. Without trust, accountability, and ethical grounding, the work—and the people making it—can suffer.

In this solo episode, I examine a challenging but essential question: Do artists need a code of conduct? I introduce The Consummate Artist’s Code of Professional Conduct (CACPC), a framework built on eight core values and nine tenets designed to support healthier artistic environments and more sustainable creative careers.

We explore: • Why ethical lapses—big or small—disrupt artistry and community • How shared standards can empower, not restrict, creative freedom • The 8 Core Values and 9 Tenets that shape the CACPC • Real scenarios showing how ethical choices intersect with artistic practice • How artists at any stage can adopt, adapt, and apply this framework • Why the CACPC is meant to evolve with the artistic community

This episode is an invitation—to reflect, to question, and to help shape a culture of integrity, dignity, and flourishing within the arts.

Download the full CACPC document here: https://www.clbzworks.com/cacpc. And feel free to share your thoughts or experiences. I’d love to hear how these ideas resonate in your own corner of the artistic world.