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

40 Episodes
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By: Liz Manashil & Alrik Bursell

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. Episodes 238-299 are available at our patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast

Theo Brown - BONUS Throwback Interview!
#545
Last Thursday at 2:00 PM

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 463 from February 2024 with filmmaker Theo Brown who talks about making his first feature indie sci-feature on a low budget and how he casted the film. I thought this was a good match for Lincoln from Monday because both their features were low budget sci-fi films which they kinda did on their own with really small crews. 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 Podc...


Lincoln Fenner - Turning a Profit on a Indie Sci-Fi Feature Before the Release!
#545
Last Monday at 2:00 PM

This week we welcome filmmaker Lincoln Fenner who is based in Australia to talk about his indie sci-fi feature Time Rewind which made it’s budget back before it was released on digital. It’s just me on the show today so no The Game but I’m going to talk a bit about where I am at with my next feature and my current projects, read a brand new review of the show and read an email from a listener, enjoy! Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts...


Michael Molina - BONUS Throwback Interview!
#544
09/04/2025

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 232 from October 2019 featuring writer Michael Molina who talks about being a tsaff writer on animated show The Casagraandes and making his first feature Trivia night back in 2016. Alrik thought this was a good match for our episode with Toby Jones from Monday because both Toby and Michael write in animation and also made their own indie features as well. 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 Revi...


Toby Jones - Creating an Imaginative No Budget Indie Comedy!
#544
09/01/2025

This week we welcome writer/director Toby Jones on the show to talk about his latest film AJ Goes to the Dog Park, which he made 100% independently out in Fargo North Dakota. 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


Larry Fessenden - BONUS Throwback Interview!
#543
08/28/2025

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 315 from April 2021 with actor, writer and director Larry Fessenden who talked about acting alongside Barbara Crampton in Jakobs Wife. We felt that Larry was a good match for our episode with Macon Blair on Monday because they are both indie legends who write, director and act and I think it’s interesting to compare the differences and similarities of their stories. 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 Revi...


Macon Blair - Remaking the Cult Classic The Toxic Avenger!
#543
08/25/2025

This week we welcome indie film rockstar, actor, writer and director Macon Blair on the show to talk about writing and directing The Toxic Avenger Remake which releases in theaters this week! Macon also talks about the impact Blue Ruin had on his career and the circumstances that lead to him directing The Toxic Avenger! After that we play another round of Your 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


Brian Helgeland - BONUS Throwback Interview!
#542
08/21/2025

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 454 from December 2023 featuring writer and director Brian Helgeland who talks about making his latest feature Finestkind starring Ben Foster and Tommy Lee Jones.Alrik thought it would be fun to pair Brain with Chuck Russell from Monday because Brain also directed some really big and monumental movies in Alrik’s life from the 90s, namely Payback. 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 Podcas...


Chuck Russell - How to Approach Remaking a Horror Classic with Witchboard!
#542
08/18/2025

This week we welcome Writer, director Chuck Russell on the show to talk about remaking Witchboard as his latest feature, we also talk about his hayday as a director, getting to direct NIghtmare on Elmstreet 3, The Blob remake, The Mask and Eraser. 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


Maria Loohufvud and Love Martinsen - BONUS Throwback Interview!
#541
08/14/2025

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 404 from December 2022 featuring documentary filmmakers Maria Loohufvud and Love Martinesen who talked about making their documentary Calendar Girls! I thought this was a good match for our episode with Julie Meyer from Monday because they both made documentaries about artists, doing something that they believe in, just in 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/p...


Julie Meyer - Filming Ballet Dancers in Ukraine During Wartime!
#541
08/11/2025

This week we welcome producer Julie Meyer on the show to talk about the documentary The Sky Was on Fire, Ballet and War in the Ukraine, where she talks about how the project came to be and what it was like traveling to Ukraine to film the movie. 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


Jason Horton - BONUS Throwback Interview!
#540
08/07/2025


Jason Park - Putting Your Filmmaking Success in Your Own Hands!
#540
08/05/2025

This week we welcome writer/director/editor/colorist and actor Jason Park on the show to talk about how he has made his 8 features on his own, while raising a family and having a day job. He also breaks down how he manages to shoot his movies primarily on the weekends. After that we play another round of THE GAME and talk about the current statuses of our projects., 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


Jeff Ryan - BONUS Throwback Interview!
#539
08/02/2025

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 439 from August 2023 featuring filmmaker Jeff Ryan who talks about making his feature Mean Spirited, he thought this was a good match for our episode from Monday because Liz thought this was a good match because both of their movies have Spirit in the title. 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


Christopher Yates and Sabrina Zahir - Coming Together as Producer and Director to Make a First Feature!
#539
07/28/2025

This week we welcome writer/director Christopher Yates and producer Sabrina Zahir on the show to talk about the making of American Spirit which premiered at the Austin Film Festival last fall. Our producer extraordinaire Eric Toms conducted this interview from the Omni Hotel in Austin so it’s sure to be a good one. 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


Adam Cooper - BONUS Throwback Interview!
#538
07/24/2025

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 468 from March 2024 featuring writer and director Adam Cooper who talks about making his first feature starring Russell Crowe after a career writing studio features. I thought it would be fun to pair it with James and Sebastian from Monday because James also started his career writing studio features before becoming a director. 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...


James DeMonaco and Sebastien Lemercier - Forming a Lasting Director Producer Partnership!
#538
07/21/2025

This week we welcome Writer, director James DeMonaco and Producer Sebastien Lemercier on the show to talk about making their latest feature The Home starring Pete Davidson and they also talk about how they connected as a team and how they brought The Purge into existence. 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


Ryan Spindell - BONUS Throwback Interview!
#537
07/17/2025

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 413 from February 2023 with filmmaker Ryan Spindell who talks about making his first feature which was an anthology, horror film that he made with the help of the success of one of the shorts that make up the feature. We felt that Ryan was a good match for Rick because they both used a short to fundraise their features in different ways. 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...


Rick Bosner - From Serial Feature Producer to Feature Film Writer/Director!
#537
07/14/2025

This week we welcome long-time producer Rick Bosner back on the show to talk about directing his first feature Devoted, which is currently in post production After that we play another round of THE GAME and Liz is back, hooray!!! 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


Thom Harp - BONUS Throwback Interview!
#536
07/11/2025

On this throwback episode, we revisit the interview with writer and director Thom Harp where he talks about making his move to LA, getting reps, making connections and then after many many years, making his two first features back to back during the pandemic with a focus on The Donor Party starring Malin Ackerman --- 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


Kim Noonan - Getting Hired to Direct a Horror Feature!
#536
07/08/2025

This week we welcome director Kim Noonan on the show to talk about making his latest feature film Are You There?, how he got attached to the project and how Kim ended up having two features come out the same 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


Ren: The Girl with The Mark - BONUS Throwback Interview!
#535
07/04/2025

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 470 from April 2024 with Ren: The Girl with The Mark Co Creators/Directors/Writers, Kate Madison and Christopher Dane and current showrunner DP and Writer Neil Oseman. I thought these guys were a perfect match for our interview with Sarha Jefferson Carter and Justin Carter because they both made a fantasy series on a similar budget. 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! http...


Nina Conti and Shenoah Allen - Turning a Live Stage Show into a Feature Film!
#535
06/30/2025

This week we welcome Writer, director and star and producer/star couple Nina Conti and Shenoah Allen on the show to talk about making their first fiction feature, Sunlight which they made together based on a live show they did on stage together. 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


Emily Abt - BONUS Throwback Interview!
#534
06/26/2025

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 424 from May 2023 with writer and director Emily Abt who talks about getting into Sundance with her first feature and making her second feature Thirsty, which is not streaming on all platforms! I thought this was a great time to re-release the episode now that the movie is out and ready to be shared with the world! 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 Podc...


Sarah Jefferson Carter and Justin Carter - Making a Completely Independent TV Show!
#534
06/23/2025

This week we welcome Sarah Jefferson Carter and Justin Carter on the show to talk about creating their indie fantasy sci-fi show Queendom Come, how they financed the show and how they made it the way they did. 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


Kestrin Pantera - BONUS Throwback Interview!
#533
06/20/2025

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 267 from June 2020 featuring writer director Kestrin Pantera! Alrik thought this was a good match for our episode with Hala Matar from Monday because Kestrin also talks about making her first feature. 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


Hala Matar - From a Trip to Italy to Making a First Feature Film!
#533
06/16/2025

This week we welcome writer director Hala (Hella) Matar on the show to talk about making her first feature film Electra in Italy. 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


Abby Horton and Ryan Dickie - BONUS Throwback Interview!
#532
06/12/2025

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 443 from September 2023 featuring writer and director husband and wife team Abby Horton and Ryan Dickie talking about making their first feature together as a team. I thought it would be fun to pair it with Brian and David’s episode from Monday because they are also a married couple who came together to write and direct a feature as a team. 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 R...


David Joseph Craig and Brain Crano - Directing a Dream Feature with Your Life Partner!
#532
06/09/2025

This week we welcome Writer and director power couple Brian Crano and David Joseph Craig on the show to talk about writing I Don’t Understand You, how they came up with the story, how they got it made and what it was like to write and direct the movie together . 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


Natalie Erika James - BONUS Throwback Interview!
#531
06/05/2025

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 273 from July 2020 featuring writer and director Natalie Erika James. Alrik thought this was a good match for our episode with Julia Max from Monday because they both made supernatural horror films as their first features, both with substantial budgets. 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


Julia Max - Orchestrating Your Dream First Feature Film!
#531
06/02/2025

This week we welcome Writer/Director Julia Max on the show to talk about how she made her first feature The Surrender on a high budget, how she found the money and her process for pulling the film together once she found the budget. After that we play another round of THE GAME and talk about what we are both up to, 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


J.J. Perry - BONUS Throwback Interview!
#530
05/30/2025

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 493 from September 2024 featuring director and stuntman JJ Perry! I thought this was a good match for our episode with Kirsten Foe from Monday because JJ also started in stunts before moving onto directing, so I thought it would be fun to pair it with Kirsten's 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


Kirsten Foe - Navigating the World of Stunts, Directing an Indie Film and Finding the Right Collaborators!
#530
05/26/2025

This week we welcome Writer, Director and Stunt Woman Kirsten Foe on the show to talk about how she got into stunts and how she was able to get her first feature financed by the late great Jim Irsay. This was recorded before his death so our condolences to his friends and family. After that we play another round of THE GAME and talk about what we are both up to, 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


Melissa Rundle - BONUS Throwback Interview!
#529
05/22/2025

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 441 from September 2023 with writer Melissa Rundle who talks about making a career as a writer in Hollywood. Alrik thought this was a great match for Leon’s episode on Monday because they are both full time writers working in Hollywood. 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


Leon Chills - Writing and Selling Your First Feature Script in Hollywood!
#529
05/19/2025

This week we welcome writer Leon Chills on the show to talk about writing the new feature Shadow Force, how he got the script sold and how he has been making a living as a Hollywood Writer. After that we play another round of THE GAME and talk about what we are both up to, 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


Braden Duemmler - BONUS Throwback Interview!
#528
05/15/2025

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 391 from October 2022 featuring wrtier/director Braden Duemmler! Alrik thought this was a good match for our episode with Felipe Vargas from Monday because Braden also went to USC and his first feature was funded at a pretty high budget, just as Felipe’s was. 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


Felipe Vargas - Short Films to USC to a First Feature!
#528
05/12/2025

This week we welcome writer director Felipe Vargas on the show to talk about making his first feature film Rosario, how he got attached to the project and the short films he made that led him to get his first feature made at this level. Friend of the show and previous guest Clinton Cornwall came on to do the interview with Alrik due to a scheduling thing on Eric's end, so if you don’t recognize the voice, that’s who it is, and check out Clinton’s interview on episode 480, with Liz and Alrik. It’s a raucous good time! Af...


Carter Smith - BONUS Throwback Interview!
#527
05/08/2025

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 412 from February 2023 featuring director Carter Smith! Alrik thought this was a good match for our episode with Timothy Scott Bogart from Monday because Carter also is making his films at different budget levels, going well over 10 million and way under, depending on the project, just like Tim. 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


Timothy Scott Bogart - Writing and Directing Indie Musical Juliet and Romeo!
#527
05/05/2025

This week we welcome writer director Timothy Scott Bogart on the show to talk about making his latest feature film Juliet & Romeo, a pop-musical adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, shot on location in Italy, starring Rebel Wilson, Jason Issacs, Rupert Everett and Derek Jacobi among others, with all the songs being recorded in camera. 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


Mick Davis - BONUS Throwback Interview!
#526
05/01/2025

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 449 from November 2023 with director Mick Davis who talks about directing his latest feature Walden, starring Emile Hirsch. I thought this was a great match for Dito’s episode on Monday because they are both full time directors how have directed eight features. 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


Dito Montiel - Casting Jennifer Coolidge to Breath Life into Feature #8!
#526
04/28/2025

This week we welcome writer/director Dito Montiel on the show to talk about directing his latest feature Riff Raff, starring Jennifer Coolidge, Pete Davidson and Bill Murray, among others and Dito tells us about how he got such an incredible cast in this film. 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