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

Ren: The Girl with The Mark - BONUS Throwback Interview!
#535
Last Friday at 2:00 PM

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
Last Monday at 2:00 PM

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


Marco Aguilar - BONUS Throwback Interview!
#525
04/24/2025

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 149 from March 2018 with filmmaker Marco Aguilar who talks about taking his short film concept and building it out to raise money for his Zombie Parkour feature. Alrik thought this was a great match for Grant Rosado’s episode from Monday because they both talk about running crowdfunding campaigns for martial arts based 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...


Meera Menon - BONUS Throwback Interview!
#524
04/22/2025

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 385 from August 2022 featuring director Meera Menon! Alrik thought this was a good match for our episode with Ami Canaan Mann from Monday because Meera also started making indie features before going into TV directing. 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


Grant Rosado - Directing Feature Number Two and Crowdfunding for Feature Three!
#525
04/21/2025

This week we welcome writer/director Grant Rosado on the show to talk about directing his 2nd feature Puffing Iron, how he made the film happen and the prep he is doing for his third feature 8Rx. 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


Ami Canaan Mann - Directing Features to TV and Back Again!
#524
04/14/2025

This week we welcome writer director Ami Canaan Mann on the show to talk about making her latest feature film Audrey’s Children, how she got attached to the project and her philosophy behind her filmmaking! Friend of the show and previous guest Clinton Cornwell came on to do the interview with Alrik due to a scheduling thing on my 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! After that we play another round of THE GAME and t...


Brian Silverman - BONUS Throwback Interview!
#523
04/11/2025

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 495 from September 2024 featuring writer and director Brian Silverman who talks about putting down his own money to make his first feature film! Alrik thought this was a good match for our episode with Joseph T Walker from Monday because they both put down their own money to make their 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/podc...


Joseph T. Walker - Betting on Yourself with Your First Feature!
#523
04/07/2025

This week we welcome writer director Joseph T. Walker on the show to talk about making his first feature La Gloria which played at the Austin Film Festival earlier this year! Eric conducted this interview from the Omni Hotel in Austin. 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


Amy Taylor - BONUS Throwback Interview!
#522
04/04/2025

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 228 from September 2019 featuring director and friend of the show Amy Taylor! Alrik thought this was a good match for our episode with Luis from Monday because Amy also made a mockumentary feature, although 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


Luis Caffesse - From Directing Rebel Without a Crew to a Mockumentary Feature!
#522
03/31/2025

This week we welcome filmmaker and producer Luis Caffesse on the show to talk about directing his mockumentary feature, Subtopia: The Story of Hueco Canyon which played at the Austin Film Festival earlier this year! I had the pleasure of conducting 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 and Eric and Liz talk about what they 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://podc...


Tate Hanyok - BONUS Throwback Interview!
#521
03/27/2025

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 418 from April 2023 with actor, writer and director Tate Hanyok who talks about going from writing to directing her first feature. Alrik thought Tate was a good match for Lauren because they both started as actors and then moved on to producing 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 Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952


Lauren Selman - Acting, Producing and Finding Your Film Family!
#521
03/24/2025

This week we welcome actress and producer Lauren Selman on the show to talk about acting in and producing the Farewelling, how she got into producing and what it’s like being part of a film cohort. After that we play another round of THE GAME and talk about what we both have been 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


Chelsea Christer - BONUS Throwback Interview!
#520
03/20/2025

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 319 from May 2021 with filmmaker Chelsea Christer who talks about making her first feature documentary which is also a music doc. We felt that Chelsea was a good match for Marc because they both met bands and ended up making a feature documentary about the band. 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


Christian Sesma - BONUS Throwback Interview!
#519
03/18/2025

Apologies for the late post, this is last weeks Thursday bonus episode, I missed the deadline so now you get three this week! On our first bonus episode this week we are going to play the interview from episode 280 from August 2020 with filmmaker and restaurant owner Christian Sesma about working on his film Pay Dirt starring Val Kilmer. Alrik thought Christian was a good match for Bryant because they left their careers to make their first features, although Christian is a few films ahead of Bryant. After that we talk about the Oscars, enjoy! Don’t forget to support us on...


Marc Pilvinsky - Finding the Story for a Documentary Feature!
#520
03/17/2025

This week we welcome filmmaker Marc Pilvinsky on the show to talk about directing his latest documentary feature, Weirdo: The story of five eight. 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


Bryant Griffin - Quitting the Dream Job for Your First Feature!
#519
03/10/2025

This week we welcome filmmaker and VFX artist Bryant Griffin on the show to talk about directing his first feature, Young King and how he left his job, moved to LA and made his first feature length 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


Riley Stearns - BONUS Throwback Interview!
#518
03/07/2025

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 367 from September 2022 with Riliey Stearns, who has made multiple studio features, including Dual which is also an action film so I thought this was a good match for Martin Campbell. 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


Martin Campbell - The Art and Craft of a Working Director!
#518
03/03/2025

This week we welcome director of such features as Vertical Limit, The Foreigner, Golden Eye and Casino Royale, Martin Campbell. Martin talks about his filmmaking career, how he pick his projects and how he approached directing his latest feature, Cleaner. 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


Travis White - Madison Phillips - BONUS Throwback Interview!
#517
02/27/2025

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 302 from January 2021 featuring the short film Why Haven’t They Fixed The Cameras Yet by filmmakers Travis White and Madison Phillips who came on the show to talk about the film. I thought this was a great match since we had Travis and Madison on the show talking about their 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...


Chris Beier - Daniel Wolfman - Travis White - Madison Phillips - Making of The Ego Death of Queen Cecilia!
#517
02/24/2025

This week we welcome the team from The Ego Death of Queen Cecilia, including Writer/director Chris Beier, writer/co-producer Daniel Wolfman and producers (and old friends of the show) Travis White and Madison Phillips to talk about the making of the film which premiered at the Austin Film Festival. 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 and talk about the current statuses of our projects, enjoy! Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www...


Lena Headey - BONUS Throwback Interview!
#516
02/20/2025

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 451 from November 2023 with actor turned writer director Lena Heady who was on the show to talk about writing and directing her first feature. I thought Lena was a good match for Julia because they are both established recognizable actors who we had on to talk about jumping into directing after starring in some of the biggest movies/shows. 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 A...


Julia Stiles - From Starring in Studio Features to Writing and Directing an Indie Feature!
#516
02/17/2025

This week we welcome writer, director and actor Julia Stiles on the show to talk about directing her first feature Wish You Were Here and how she managed to get the film made without taking a starring role. After that we chat about our own projects and 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