The MAKE IT Podcast

Hello, Hello!  Chris here with a short message of thanks to our esteemed listeners and supporters. It's been a fantastic year for MAKE IT, and that's thanks to you for your engagement and support. If you have not noticed, Nick and I decided to try something new with the release schedule. Longform podcast episodes are now published every eleven days instead of every seven days. That means e...

Hello, Hello!    In this edition of Indie Talk, Chris and Nick are in the holiday spirit! They talk about their favorite holiday cocktails, their favorite holiday movies, which holiday films will become classics for future generations, the growing issue of "forced" representation in TV and Film, and Netflix’s bold move to remove ‘Glass Onion’ from theaters. Enjoy!    The MAKE IT podcast is...

Hello, Hello!    In this episode, we have a conversation with writer and comedian Charla Lauriston. We talk about working on the NBC series Grand Crew, writing her web series 'Clinch & Release,' her excellent new course for writers, The Werking Writer School , comedy as a defense mechanism, the importance of being seen, racism in Boston, why it's harder to get a laugh from a fellow...

Hello, Hello!   In this episode, we have a conversation with Emmy-winning director and Creative Consultant, Fr3deR1ck. In this hard-hitting, no-holds-barred interview, we talk about his award-winning documentary film, 'Counter Histories: Rock Hill,' his production company Tomorrow Pictures, life-changing experiences in Kenya and Romania, the many roles race plays in film opportunities in A...

Hello, Hello!   In this special edition of Indie Talk, Actor, Writer, and Comedian Jessica Anderson ( @jesstation ) stands in as co-host for Nick. We talk about the problem of social media being good for validation but bad for kids, Neal Brennan's new stand-up special, 'Blocks,' we discuss the Dave Chappelle SNL monologue and appearance criticisms, Wakanda Forever's colossal openin...

Hello, Hello! In this episode, we have a conversation with the Executive Vice President of Rolling Pictures and Producer Mark Maxey. We talk about his films, ‘Space Oddity,’ ‘As They Made Us,’ and ‘Rare Objects,’ his relationship with Snuffy Walden, the subject of his documentary, ‘Up To Snuff,’ the types of films he likes to produce, how he accesses a screenplay, how to create proper financing st...

Hello, Hello!   In this episode, we have a conversation with Actress and Producer Zair Montes. We talk about growing up as a creative in Venezuela, her company Golden Ceiba Productions, how she produced a feature film without access to electricity, the secrets of shooting a film in Cuba, advice on acting school, her experience falling in love on set, her films Dopamine (post-production), Rumba Lov...

Hello, Hello!     In this episode, Chris and Nick talk about why they aren’t watching Netflix’s ‘Dahmer,’ our take on the Ye antisemitic saga, predatory contracts in the Indie Film industry, why ‘Black Adam’ didn’t sell as expected in the box office, and we provide an update on Meg Smaker’s progress with her documentary, ‘Unredacted.’ Enjoy!     The MAKE IT podcast is brought to you by the Voice o...

Hello, Hello!   In this Industry Insight, Nick breaks down a branding and marketing snafu that Naomi Osaka recently worked through and what we, as film creatives, can do to avoid the same obstacles. Enjoy! Listen+Subscribe+Rate = Love     The MAKE IT podcast is the platform for the Voice of the Filmmaker ( https://www.bonsai.film/voiceofthefilmmaker ) program, which is brought to you in partnershi...

Hello, Hello!   In this special Mental Health Awareness Month release, we have a conversation with Former UCLA Professor of Psychiatry, Author, Documentarian, Podcaster, and Suicide Prevention Expert, Dr. Mark Goulston . We talk about how he treated his undiagnosed depression, "Surgical Empathy," the "Four Prompts for Suicide Prevention," the stories of Patient Nancy, Kevin Hines,...

Hello, Hello!   In this episode, we have a conversation with Designer and Art Director Frances Hernandez . We talk about her work on 'Spiderman: No Way Home,' 'Star Wars,' 'House Party,' Mura Masa and Shura's 'Love for That,' growing up in the North Carolina "sticks," why LeBron James is fantastic, but not the greatest of all-time, falling out of love wi...

Hello, Hello!     In this edition of Mistakes In The Making, we learn from Director Spencer Glover . Spencer expounds on the frustration of knowing what you want to see on the screen in your mind’s eye but not being able to reproduce those qualities in the real world starting out as a neophyte Director. His advice? Let your good taste guide you until you get it right. Enjoy!   Listen+Subscribe+Rat...

Hello, Hello!   It’s an Indie Talk week, and Chris and Nick have a conversation about the about-face of Sundance on the festival acceptance turned rejection of the Meg Smaker documentary, ‘Jihad Rehab,’ fake Twitter fights, the bombast and publicity genius of Ye (formerly Kanye West), and we break down what we learned from the Nashville Film Festival pitch contest and provide the tactics, tools, a...

Hello, Hello!   In this episode, Actor Aaron Muñoz teaches us not to psyche ourselves out from over-preparation. Aaron expounds on an experience in which he was cast in a significant role and wanted to be prepared—but that readily turned into an obsession with minutia and over-preparation that didn't help him perform better but instead put too much in his head about his character. Enjoy!   Fol...

Hello, Hello!   In this episode, we have a conversation with Director, Producer, and Cinematographer Haley Watson . We talk about the Academy Award Winning film ‘Queen Of Basketball,’ her film ‘The Getaway,’ working with Director Ben Proudfoot, the concept of “measurable error,” the challenges of shooting outside of her home country (U.S.), the importance of building community, and her formula for...

Hello, Hello!   In this edition of Mistakes In The Making, we explore Actor Chris Greene's experiences around learning to honor the business side of show business and not letting fear decide whether or not to question a less than straightforward agent. Enjoy!   Connect with Chris: Instagram Twitter Website   Listen+Subscribe+Rate = Love     The MAKE IT podcast is the platform for the Voice of...

Hello, Hello!   In this edition of Indie Talk, Chris and Nick talk about being able to compartmentalize the art and the artist, provide an explanation for this year's low Emmy ratings, and expound about what we loved about the Emmys (including the Cheryl Lee Ralph speech), and introduce the concept of non-fiscal currency, and it's importance in guaranteeing Indie Film ROI. Enjoy!     Liste...

Hello, Hello!     In this edition of Mistakes In The Making, we learn from Actor Brandon Hirsch . He talks about a time when he accepted a writing job that didn't pan out.   Through this experience, he learned to value his time better and always scrutinize opportunities and the people that offer them. Enjoy!     Listen+Subscribe+Rate = Love     The MAKE IT podcast is the platform for the Voice...

Hello, Hello!     In this episode, we have a conversation with Artistic Director Brian Owens . We talk about the upcoming Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) beginning on September 22nd, the importance of The Royal Theater in Danville, Indiana and the story of their "Big Pickle," why Jaws changed his life, what mistake kills the chances of a film being accepted into a major film fes...

Hello, Hello!   In this edition of Mistakes In The Making, we learn from Actor Kris Wente about the dangers of not asking for what you need on set.   Especially when things change in the project or script. Enjoy!     Listen+Subscribe+Rate = Love     The MAKE IT podcast is the platform for the Voice of the Filmmaker ( https://www.bonsai.film/voiceofthefilmmaker ) program, which is brought to you in...

Hello, Hello!   In this episode, Chris and Nick talk about the branding genius of Serena Williams, the potentially creepy return of MoviePass, Neil Gaiman’s rule of two-thirds, the arms race for the future of media, branding rules to follow before you start marketing, Indie Film scoring, Nick defends his “triple aloha,” and Chris talks art diversification. Enjoy!     Listen+Subscribe+Rate = Love  ...

Hello, Hello! In this edition of Mistakes In The Making, we hear from Actor and Writer Ted Welch . He expounds upon his experiences in the film industry after booking hit films like 'The Help' and hit shows like 'True Blood' and how he overcame hubris to form a true community. Enjoy!  Listen+Subscribe+Rate = Love   The MAKE IT podcast is the platform for the Voice of the Filmmaker...

Hello, Hello!   In this episode, we have a conversation with Cinematographer, Writer, and Director Tiffany Murray . We talk about her partnership with Amy Kersten , their new podcast ' Southbridge ,' how to turn a failed television pitch into new media, the major networks creating a lane for podcast domination, knowing when you need a change of scenery creatively, her favorite cameras for...

Hello, Hello!     In this special episode, we have a conversation with Director, Writer Aaron Irons , and Producer, Actor Josh Croft . We talk about their new Found Footage film, ‘Chest,’ the process of making a $30K SAG film, the challenges of shooting, acting, and scoring a Found Footage film, the importance of improv, and getting held at gunpoint and detained while on a location scout. Enjoy!  ...

Hello, Hello!     Nick is on vacation, so in this edition of Indie Talk, Writer, Actor, and Director Matt Williams joins Chris in this Wonderland-rabbit-hole exploration of a conversation. Chris and Matt talk about why creatives should move to Los Angeles to play at the highest levels, finding success as a writer, and when to take a break from social media for the sake of their mental health (but,...