Episodes
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In this episode, I dive deep into the world of single location filmmaking and share my thoughts making the most of your micro-budget production.
Throughout the show I unpack many of the common pitfalls associated with this approach - like keeping your audience engaged and avoiding visual repetition - along with creative solutions at each step. Topics covered include:Writing your script around the location from the beginningSeeking out primal stories with high stakes and character potentialUtilizing every space within the location to add visual varietyVarying the time of day to create diverse lighting setups and moodsCasting dynamic actors with natural chemistry to add intensityAll of this and much more on today's show!
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Today I am joined by Ryan McGuire, who heads up the commercial production company Cutter Studios in Tokyo, Japan.
Throughout the interview, Ryan and I take a deep dive into the world of commercial filmmaking. Ryan shares his story launching a niche production business in Japan, which has attracted clients like Amazon and Zeiss along the way. We also discuss tips for filmmakers looking to build an impressive body of work, how to best differentiate yourself, the impact of AI on the industry, and much more.
Links from the show:
Cutter Studios Tokyo
Ryan McGuire - LinkedIn
Ryan McGuire - Instagram
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Missing episodes?
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In this episode I am joined by friend of the show and host of Past Present Feature (@pastpresentfeature), Marcus Mizelle. An Emmy award winning feature filmmaker who has made numerous successful DIY narrative and documentary films.
Throughout the interview we talk about Marcus’ leap from scripted micro-budget narratives, to breakthrough feature doc projects. He speaks to the importance of curation in modern day cinema, the state of the theatrical experience, and shares the benefits of podcasting and content creating for filmmakers.
This and much more on today's episode!
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Today I am thrilled to have acclaimed DP Oren Soffer on to talk about his recent work on The Creator, and all other things cinematography.
Oren is of course known for his brilliant camera work on countless narrative, commercial, and music video projects. He recently co-DP’d The Creator along with Greig Fraser - which drew tons of attention for its stunning visuals and innovative use of the Sony FX3.
Throughout the interview, Oren talks about his journey into cinematography, the process of co-DP'ing a project, and tips for budding cinematographers looking to break in. He also shares technical wisdom on green screens vs. gray screens, shooting with the FX3 on a major feature film, and much more!
Links from the show:
Oren Soffer - Instagram
Oren Soffer - Website
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In this episode I am very excited to share my interview with the amazing Barbara Crampton - Known for her iconic genre films like Re-Animator, Jakob’s Wife, Suitable Flesh, and countless others.
After recently working with Barbara on our new feature film, I had to get her on the podcast to discuss her unique creative process.
Throughout the discussion, we cover Barbara’s career path from soap star to genre legend. We also discuss tips for new directors working with actors, the importance of re-inventing yourself as an artist, landing notable actors for your film, and so much more.
Links from the show:
Barbara on Instagram
Barbara on Twitter
Barbara on Facebook
Scream Dreams Podcast
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In this episode, I share a breakdown of some amazing and unconventional lens choices on the feature film Poor Things.
While many lenses were used throughout production, there were 4 in particular that I believe contributed most critically to the distinct look of this film - Including a pair of Lomography Petzval lenses, and a 4mm lens adapted from Super 16.
Throughout the episode, I cover each lens in depth, explore how they were used, and share other key takeaways from the film.
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In this episode I am joined by DIY filmmaker Marty McGowan, who recently completed his feature film Ava on a budget of just $200!
Throughout the episode, we unpack Marty’s creative process, how he pulled off a feature with a 2 person crew, and his approach to building a strong visual palette on a budget. We also touch on his workflow for capturing great performances, the importance of building your own filmmaking model, and more.
Links from the show:
Marty McGowan - Instagram
Marty McGowan - Website
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In this new solo episode, I break down these 8 common issues that can kill your indie film:
Big egosRushing the scriptDragging out developmentOverspending on equipmentNeglecting actors for cameraMaking sound an afterthoughtNot taking feedback from the teamNot caring about the small details
Throughout the show I take a deep dive into the root cause of each of these issues, along with practical solutions for working around them.
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In this episode, I am joined by filmmaker Steven Pierce to talk all about his latest feature film Herd.
The film follows a woman that ends up trapped between a zombie outbreak and warring militia groups while trying to outrun her past. An ambitious concept for a micro-budget, making the execution of it all that much more impressive.
Throughout the episode Steven and I speak about his new film at length. We cover his tactics for shooting action sequences on a budget, how he covered 20+ locations, the process of editing his own film, and much more.
Links from the show:
Herd - Movie Website
Herd - Instagram
Steven Pierce - Instagram
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In this new solo episode, I compare and contrast my experience directing and DP’ing two separate feature films, and share tips for other filmmakers looking to do the same.
Throughout the episode we cover everything from camera & lens choice to on-set workflow. All with the intention of maximizing collaboration with actors, achieving great production value, and simplifying your on-set workflow.
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Today I am joined by writer / director Benjamin Epstein to talk about his acclaimed feature film Buck Alamo, which stars Bruce Dern, Sonny Carl Davis, Lorelei Linklater, and premiered at the Oldenburg Film Festival.
Throughout the episode we discuss Benjamin’s path as a filmmaker. From his early short film work to his first premiere at SXSW. We also unpack his creative process, his experience directing TV, and take a behind the scenes look at his latest feature film Buck Alamo.
Links from the show:
Benjamin Epstein - Instagram
Buck Alamo - Movie Website
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After taking a brief hiatus while in production for our new feature Teacher's Pet, I am thrilled to return to the show!
Before sharing a slew of new interviews with you, I wanted to first publish this solo episode to give you a behind the scenes look into our process on the new movie.
Throughout the episode I discuss how the film was developed, my approach to keeping a DIY mentality while scaling things up, specific on set workflows, and much more.
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In this episode I am excited to be joined by acclaimed DP Danny Ruhlmann, whose latest feature film Anyone But You (starring Sydney Sweeney & Glen Powell) is out in theaters today.
Throughout the episode Danny generously shares his wealth of knowledge on all things cinematography - From specific tactics for beauty lighting to creative workflows for achieving better results on set in less time. We also discuss networking methods for aspiring DPs, overall career advice, and much more.
Links from the show:
Anyone But You - IMDB
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Today I am joined by filmmaker, director, and actor Scott Monahan to talk all about his brand new feature film Anchorage.
Anchorage was shot in just 5 days on a budget of barely over $50,000, but that didn’t stop the film from landing a wildly successful festival tour and eventual theatrical release. Throughout the interview we take a deep dive behind the scenes look at this innovative feature.
We also go in depth on the importance of telling personal stories, the production process, festival strategy, navigating rejection, and so much more.
Links from the show:
Anchorage Movie - Instagram
Scott Monahan - Instagram
Dakota Loesch - Instagram
Anchorage - Trailer
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Today, I am thrilled to be joined by Tom DeLonge of blink-182, Angels & Airwaves, and To The Stars, here to talk all about his debut feature film Monsters Of California.
As a longtime fan of Tom’s, it was a treat to host this conversation and hear about his evolution into filmmaking first hand. We discuss the origin story of Monsters, how Tom’s band Angels & Airwaves sparked his interest in cinema, and Tom’s directorial approach to making this film.
Tom also speaks to how his DIY roots in punk music informed his approach while filming, resulting in innovative tactics that helped him achieve stunning production value as an indie production.
Monsters of California is out in theaters and streaming October 6th, 2023!
Watch the trailer for Monsters Of California here.
Follow Monsters of California on Instagram.
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In this episode I am joined by writer / director Bishal Dutta to talk all about his debut feature film It Lives Inside.
After making dozens of short films, Bishal leveraged his impressive body of work to develop an amazing feature film with NEON. Throughout the interview, we discuss Bishal’s trajectory from making self funded projects to a theatrically released feature. We also touch on the nuances of the horror genre, Bishal’s creative approach to directing, and much more.
Links from the show:
Bishal Dutta - Instagram
Bishal Dutta - Twitter
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Today, I am thrilled to be joined by Jennifer Esposito, here to discuss the incredible journey making and releasing her debut feature film, Fresh Kills.
Throughout the episode Jennifer documents her creative process at length - from conceptualizing the first female driven organized crime movie, to navigating countless obstacles to raise production financing.
She also shares invaluable insight for filmmakers on vetting producers, building a team, and working with actors, along with her experience premiering at Tribeca and much more!
Links from the show:
Jennifer Esposito - Instagram
Jennifer Esposito - Twitter / X
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In this episode I am joined by acclaimed cinematographer and Columbia University film professor Tal Lazar.
Throughout the interview, Tal shares his perspective on the art of cinematography from a storytelling perspective. We discuss visual tactics for directors, how to achieve a specific cinematic vision, and the improtance of developing your own visual language.
Tal also shares his philosophy on why cinematography is not inherintly a technical artform, recommendations for buying vs. renting gear, and much more.
Links from the show:
Latent Images
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In this episode, I am joined by professional location scout Jillian Fisher - Known for her work on films like The Whale, Theater Camp, Reality, and countless others.
Throughout the interview, Jillian shares a behind the scenes look at her career, from breaking into the business to working on Hollywood feature films. She also talks about her journey to build up the local film industry in Kingston NY, micro-budget scouting tactics, and many lessons learned along the way.
Links from the show:
Jillian Fisher - Instagram
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Today I am thrilled to be joined by filmmaking legend Larry Kasanoff, known for his work on major feature films like True Lies, Terminator 2, Mortal Kombat, Platoon, Dirty Dancing, and countless others.
Throughout the episode, we discuss Larry’s unique career path - from his early feature film work to his breakout success as a producer and studio executive. He also shares his unique philosophy on navigating life and creativity, which is expanded upon in his new book A Touch of the Madness: How to Be More Innovative in Work and Life... by Being a Little Crazy.
This is a must listen for filmmakers at all stages in need of a dose of wisdom and creative inspiration.
Links from the show:
www.atouchofthemadness.com
Pick up "A Touch Of The Madness" here:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Books-A-Million Bookshop.org
Indigo
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