Podcast

Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie Filmmaking

Arts, Film Interviews, TV & Film, Visual Arts

Liz Manashil and Alrik Bursell discuss independent filmmaking, everything from writing, producing and directing to working as crew. But this is not just a podcast about "making it," it's also about struggling with rejection, self-doubt and everything else that comes with pursuing a career in film. Follow along as we forge our own way through the industry and talk to guests who are also making it happen.

Support the show at: https://www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast

Film Interviews chart
#34
Episodes
605
Releases
Twice a week
Typical length
1 hr 2 min
On air since
2018
Latest episode
1 day ago

Episodes

605 episodes, newest first

  1. Cameron Francis and Eric Toms - Experiencing Fright Fest 2026!

    Season 13, Episode 605

    Show notes

    This week we welcome writer/director Cameron Francis writer and director of Blood Secret on the show to talk about his feature playing Fright Fest straight from the festival in London! This interview was a short one so we have another special guest on the show, Eric Toms to talk about HIS feature film Dracula The Night Around Us which he starred in! After that we play another round of the GAME, enjoy!

    Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast

    Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
    for information about our collection and use of personal data for
    advertising.

    1 hr 7 min
  2. Ross Putnam - BONUS Throwback Interview!

    Season 13, Episode 604

    Show notes

    On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 309 from March 2021 featuring film sales and finance agent Ross Putman! I thought this was a really good match with our episode with Itzchak Maghen from Monday because they both worked in sales but both in very different contexts. After that we play another round of You’re the Expert, enjoy!

    Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast

    Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
    for information about our collection and use of personal data for
    advertising.

    1 hr 2 min
  3. Itzchak Maghen - The State of Film Sales in 2026!

    Season 13, Episode 604

    Show notes

    This week we welcome Itchak Maghen Sales Rep and Founder and CEO of Consulting IM on the show to talk about why he got into sales and how the business works today and how it is the same and different from when he got started! After that we play another round of the GAME, enjoy!

    Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast

    Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
    for information about our collection and use of personal data for
    advertising.

    1 hr 10 min
  4. Michael Cawood - BONUS Throwback Episode!

    Season 13, Episode 603

    Show notes

    On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 214 from June 2019 featuring animator, pre-viz artist and filmmaker, Michael Cawood! Michael has done pre-viz work for some of the biggest Hollywood films and his last short film, Devils, Angels and Dating has over 16 million hits online! Michael breaks down how pre-viz is done on big budget features, gives us a breakdown of his work on a famous scene and talks us through his life as an animated short filmmaker! I thought Micahel was a good match for our episode with Lucas Culshaw from Monday because they are both old school artists and I felt like Michael’s work in animation and pre-viz was in the same realm as Lucas’ storyboard work. After that we play another round of You’re the expert, enjoy!

    Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast

    Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
    for information about our collection and use of personal data for
    advertising.

    1 hr 38 min
  5. Lucas Culshaw - Can AI Make Art?

    Season 13, Episode 603

    Show notes

    This week we welcome long-time friend of the show Lucas Culshaw on the show to talk about their experience as a concept artist and how AI has impacted his world and how it has or hasn’t impacted his work. This is really an incredible conversation and we are so thankful to Lucas for opening up to us and sharing his honest thoughts on this new tool which is leaving it’s mark on our industry. After that we play another round of the GAME, enjoy!

    Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast

    Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
    for information about our collection and use of personal data for
    advertising.

    1 hr 9 min
  6. Steve Herold - BONUS Throwback Interview!

    Season 13, Episode 602

    Show notes

    On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 148 from March 2018 featuring writer/director Steve Herold's career began roughly 18 years ago when his first film HR Punkenshette got him meetings with Robert Simonds, Joe Dante, Sony and The Farrelly Brothers production company. What's happened since and why does Steve say he's still trying to get his career "off the ground." After that we play another round of You’re the expert, enjoy!

    Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast

    Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
    for information about our collection and use of personal data for
    advertising.

    1 hr 24 min
  7. Alejandro Zavala - From Prison to Legal Secretary to Producing Feature Films!

    Season 13, Episode 602

    Show notes

    This week we welcome writer/producer Alejandro Zavala on the show to talk about turning his life around after spending some time in prison, becoming a legal consultant then pivoting to filmmaking and writing and producing two features in less than a year. After that we play another round of the GAME, enjoy!

    Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast

    Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
    for information about our collection and use of personal data for
    advertising.

    1 hr 3 min
  8. Sebastien Tobler - BONUS Throwback Interview!

    Season 13, Episode 601

    Show notes

    On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 442 from September 2023 featuring writer/director Sebastien Tobler who came on the show to talk about directing his first feature and how he found his producer for the film! Since Joel Veach, our guest from Monday, also talks about finding his producer for American Muscle, I thought this was a good one to play for this bonus episode. After that we play another round of You’re the expert, enjoy!

    Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast

    Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
    for information about our collection and use of personal data for
    advertising.

    50 min
  9. Joel Veach - Finding Success with Feature #1 and Willing #2 into Existence!

    Season 13, Episode 601

    Show notes

    This week we welcome writer/director Joel Veach on the show to talk about his first feature as a director, American Muscle, how he got the film made and how he achieved success with his first feature as a writer/producer Old Man! After that we play another round of the GAME, enjoy!

    Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast

    Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
    for information about our collection and use of personal data for
    advertising.

    52 min
  10. Joe Bob Briggs - BONUS Throwback Interview!

    Season 13, Episode 600

    Show notes

    On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 292 from November 2020 featuring the Legendary Joe Bob Briggs who came on the show to talk to us about the state of low budget genre filmmaking and what indie filmmakers are up against in 2020. Joe Bob is the perfect match for our chat with the equally legendary Lloyd Kaufman, who’s films have made it on Joe Bob’s show as well as Lloyd himself! After that we play another round of You’re the expert, enjoy!

    Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast

    Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
    for information about our collection and use of personal data for
    advertising.

    33 min
  11. Lloyd Kaufman - Episode 600 with Lloyd Fucking Kaufman!

    Season 13, Episode 600

    Show notes

    This week we welcome film legend and indie filmmaker hero Lloyd Kaufman on the show to help us celebrate the 600th episode of the podcast! Lloyd talks to us all things Troma, how he started the company, their approach to filmmaking and how the company has survived for over 50 years and how he has managed to direct features for that entire time. After that we are going to celebrate the 600th episode of the show and talk about where we are now versus when we started, enjoy!

    Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast

    Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
    for information about our collection and use of personal data for
    advertising.

    1 hr 33 min
  12. Bomani J. Story - BONUS Throwback Interview!

    Season 12, Episode 599

    Show notes

    On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 428 from June 2023 featuring writer/director Bomani J. Story when he talked about to about directing his first feature the angry black girl and her monster, how he got paid to make that film and what challenges he faced making the film. I thought this was a good match for our episode with Sal Bardo on MOnday because they both talk about making their first features at a high level, just under very different circumstances.. After that we play another round of You’re the expert, enjoy!

    Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast

    Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
    for information about our collection and use of personal data for
    advertising.

    40 min
  13. Sal Bardo - Directing Your First Feature Starring Name Talent!

    Season 12, Episode 599

    Show notes

    This week we welcome writer/director/Producer Sal Bardo on the show to talk about making his first feature Out of the Woods which he wrote, directed and produced and how he pulled it off. After that we play another round of the GAME, enjoy!

    Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast

    Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
    for information about our collection and use of personal data for
    advertising.

    1 hr 12 min
  14. Zoë Alyce Salnave - BONUS Throwback Interview!

    Season 12, Episode 598

    Show notes

    On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 390 from September 2022 featuring writer/director Zoe Alyce Salnave! I thought this was a really good match with our episode with the AMDA/Hussian filmmakers from Monday because while Zoe wasn’t freshly out of college but we talked a lot about her experience at USC directing Voodoo Macbeth with 9 other directors. After that we play another round of You’re the expert, enjoy!

    Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast

    Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
    for information about our collection and use of personal data for
    advertising.

    41 min
  15. Ashely Villa - Aaron Alvarado - Cydney Jenks - Graduating from Film School in 2026!

    Season 12, Episode 598

    Show notes

    This week we welcome recently graduated AMDA/Hushein filmmakers Ashely Villa, Aaron Alvarado and Cydney Jenks who talk about their thesis films, how they got them made, what they think about AI and how they are attacking their careers and films after graduation. After that we play another round of the GAME, enjoy!

    Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast

    Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
    for information about our collection and use of personal data for
    advertising.

    1 hr 1 min
  16. Josh Stifter - BONUS Throwback Interview!

    Season 12, Episode 597

    Show notes

    On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 461 from January 2024 featuring writer/directorJosh Stifter who came on the show to talk about directing his latest short film, how he managed to make three features (at the time) and I thought Josh was a good match for our episode with Mehran Torgoley because they are both prolific filmmakers who have made multiple features and show no signs of stopping. After that we play another round of You’re the expert, enjoy!

    Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast

    Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
    for information about our collection and use of personal data for
    advertising.

    59 min
  17. Mehran Torgoley - Making Indie Feature Number Four in Italy!

    Season 12, Episode 597

    Show notes

    This week we welcome writer/director Mehran Torgoley on the show to talk about his fourth feature Golden, which he shot in Italy, how he funded the film, why he shot a film in Italy and how he has written and directed four feature films. After that I’m going to pontificate on the state of AI and filmmaking and hopefully encourage some of you to call in and share your thoughts!

    Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast

    Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
    for information about our collection and use of personal data for
    advertising.

    49 min
  18. April Mullen - BONUS Throwback Interview!

    Season 12, Episode 596

    Show notes

    On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 296 from December 2020 featuring writer/director April Mullen where she talks about making her feature Wander and her incredible career in television directing. I thought this was a good match for our episode with Tessa Blake from Monday because they both are prolific TV directors who also direct features but just with a different order of how that played out in their careers. After that we play another round of You’re the expert, enjoy!

    Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast

    Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
    for information about our collection and use of personal data for
    advertising.

    58 min
  19. Tessa Blake - Taking a Career in Television Directing into 3rd Feature!

    Season 12, Episode 596

    Show notes

    This week we welcome writer director Tessa Blake on the show to talk about her latest feature If I Tell You, why she took such a long break from features and what she's took from directing hundreds of hours of Television at a very high level.! After that we play another round of the GAME, enjoy!

    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
    for information about our collection and use of personal data for
    advertising.

    52 min
  20. Justin Plummer III and Martin Strauss - BONUS Throwback Interview!

    Season 12, Episode 595

    Show notes

    On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 89 from Feburary 2017 featuring Justin Plummer III and Martin Strauss who are two San Francisco Bay Area directors who get paid to direct full time. They talk with us about how they got started and what it's like to sign with a big time LA commercial production company, and why they weren't living in LA at the time. I thought this was a good match for our chat with Michael Naizu and John Wilcox from Monday because they are both brother co-directors who are collaborating in a very different way.. After that we play another round of You’re the expert, enjoy!

    Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast

    Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
    for information about our collection and use of personal data for
    advertising.

    1 hr 25 min

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