The New Generation of Filmmakers

Written By Axel Axe

I recently sat down in the studio with my 9-year-old daughter, Alexa, for her second appearance on the podcast. The last time we recorded a full episode together, she was six. Three years later, seeing her step back into the studio—not just as my daughter, but as an emerging collaborator, writer, and actress—was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my career.

In this episode, we sat down to talk about her summer in Los Angeles, her evolving relationship with her brother Abel, her love for pure horror, and what it actually feels like to be zipped inside a suitcase for a CJ Axe short film.

Axel and his daughter Alexa on the set of the talk show in Hollywood, California

1. Filming with the family

We recently wrapped a dark, psychological short film where Alexa plays a terrifying ghost-like spirit that appears out of nowhere to terrorize a driver.

Her grand entrance in the film? Crawling out of a zipped suitcase.

“I was like, ‘When do I go in the suitcase? Get me in the suitcase!”
— Alexa Arzola | Actress & Writer

While most 9-year-olds would have panicked or complained about claustrophobia, Alexa loved every second of it. "It was hot in there, but it was amazing," she told me during our conversation. "I was like, 'When do I go in the suitcase? Get me in the suitcase!'"

That resilience is the exact boundary line between casual viewers and real filmmakers. When we opened the playback monitor and she saw her shot, her face lit up: "Woah, I did that. That's me." That instant realization—seeing your physical effort converted into a permanent, cinematic image—is the moment the filmmaking bug bites you for life.

Unpacking "Mr. Smiley": A 9-Year-Old’s Take on Pure Horror

One of the most fascinating parts of our sit-down was exploring Alexa's obsession with horror. She doesn't just watch scary content; she analyzes the psychological mechanics of fear.

When I asked her about the original screenplays she’s been drafting in her notes app, she walked me through her current script, titled Mr. Smiley:

"It's about this 9-year-old girl who goes to her closet to get clothes, and she sees this weird being. We don't know if it's human, but he's smiling like crazy—non-stop smiling. Over the next few days, Mr. Smiley tries to befriend her... because he wants her for something."

Inspired by the uncanny, unnerving smile of the Joker, Alexa took an everyday space (the closet) and turned it into an engine for atmospheric tension. When I asked her why she loves horror so much, her answer was brilliantly simple: "I like the thrill of being scared. Like when you're scared at night and you're thinking, 'Who's that in the doorway?'"

Director Axel Arzola and his daughter Alexa Arzola discuss their new collaborative screenplay project.

The Shift from Screenplays to Novels: Detail Over Quick Cuts

At school, Alexa was recently placed in the higher-order reading and drama programs, which sparked a massive shift in how she views storytelling. While we’ve spent the last year working together on screenplays—learning how to draft, revise, and handle creative block—she recently realized the power of the written page while reading Harry Potter.

"In the movies, I thought that was it to the story," she explained. "But in the books, there's so much detail. There are whole chapters about the Dursleys that they didn't bother putting in the film."

Because of that depth, she’s currently developing a novel titled Bucks a Million, a meta-narrative about a young girl who builds a business, makes a million dollars, and grows up to write the very book she exists in. Seeing a 9-year-old naturally grasp meta-fiction and choose detailed prose over fast-paced media gives me immense hope for the next generation of storytellers.

Working for the Art: "Don't Pay Me. No Need."

Near the end of our chat, we talked about the future. When I was nine years old, I wasn't sitting in a professional studio recording podcast episodes or acting in short films. Being able to build this environment at Red Axe where my children can experiment with camera equipment, write scripts, and build real memories with me is the greatest privilege of my life.

When I asked Alexa if she wants to keep doing theater and film as she grows up, she said something that every true artist understands in their bones:

"I want to be in any film that I'm wanted in. Like, I'd do anything in any film just for free. Don't pay me. No need... It's just very fun."

(I had to remind her that when she goes to act in other people's movies, we are definitely going to charge them—but her instinct to do it purely for the love of the craft is the mark of a real creative.)

Axel Arzola during an episode of his podcast with his daughter actress and writer Alexa Arzola

This episode wasn't about hitting algorithmic targets or selling a product; it was about capturing a moment in time. Whether Alexa grows up to be a feature film director, a novelist, a stage actress, or an entrepreneur, building these stories together creates a foundation of creative confidence that no classroom can replicate. This is one of my favorite interviews because it will get better with time, and I can look back to it in 20 years and remind myself why we do anything in life: Legacy.

As filmmakers, we spend so much time searching for complex narratives, but sometimes the most powerful story is simply sitting across the table from your daughter, listening to her pitch a horror movie about a smiling monster in a closet.

Watch the full episode with Alexa on The Axel Axe Show on YouTube to see her break down her writing process, her thoughts on The Bear, and her full interview about working on set.

Axel Axe
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