Welcome back to AdYack, the podcast where we pull at the threads of creativity until something unravels. Today’s episode went deeper than I expected—in the best way possible.

I sat down with filmmaker Brandon C. Lay, whose new film ‘Finger Laced Crown’ follows a spray-paint artist named Lemon Drop as she navigates both her creative passion and the high walls of the fine art world. The film officially dropped on streaming platforms— Prime Video, Fandango at Home, and Hoopla—on December 5th, 2025, after making the rounds through local premieres and landing a distribution deal with Buffalo 8. It’s already picking up recognition, including Best Foreign Feature at the Unrestricted View Film Festival.

In our conversation, Brandon opened up about the sacrifices artists make—the kind that don’t show up in behind-the-scenes f ...