The MAKE IT Podcast

Hello, Hello! In this episode, AI Hosts Alex Ivey and Allison Inverness discuss the career of actress Danielle Vega , who transitioned from childhood stardom in "Barney and Friends" to adult success. Vega's journey is highlighted as a case study in resilience, detailing her early audition process, the demanding physical conditions for performers, and the supportive environment at Katie...

This episode is brought to you by our e-book Mastering Film Marketing. Get your copy today at https://allthingsmakeit.com/collections/learn This episode is brought to you by Anthropic. Claude is the AI for minds that don’t stop at good enough—it's the collaborator that actually understands your entire workflow and thinks WITH you, not for you. Ready to tackle bigger problems? Sign up for Claud...

Hello, Hello! In this episode, AI hosts Alex Ivey and Allison Inverness explore the unconventional career journey of indie filmmaker Jennica Schwartzman , examining how she built a successful multi-hyphenate creative life without sacrificing family or integrity. They discuss her rejection of traditional linear career models in favor of a fluid, chapter-based approach that integrates multiple roles...

This episode is brought to you by our e-book Mastering Film Marketing . Get your copy today at https://allthingsmakeit.com/collections/learn Hello, Hello!  In this episode, entertainment lawyer Elsa Ramo joins us to discuss the critical role of legal strategy in filmmaking and the entertainment industry. Ramo shares her journey from printing business cards at Kinko's to becoming a trusted advi...

Hello, Hello! WHAT IS FILM BRIEF? Blending journalism with artistry,  Film Brief  transforms film analysis into an engaging and informative listening experience. The goal is to reveal what makes each movie or series resonate—on screen and behind the scenes. For listeners, it’s not just a review; it’s an exploration of the art of filmmaking. BRIEF: In this episode, host Nick dives deep into Mortal...

Hello, Hello! In this episode, Alex Ivey and Allison Inverness explore the remarkable journey of writer, director, animator, and VFX artist Sevan Najarian , from his constrained upbringing in a strict Jehovah's Witness household in Modesto, California, to directing the crowdfunded animated feature film "Mars" for the legendary comedy troupe The Whitest Kids U Know . Through his story,...

This episode is brought to you by Anthropic. Claude is the AI for minds that don’t stop at good enough—it's the collaborator that actually understands your entire workflow and thinks WITH you, not for you. Ready to tackle bigger problems? Sign up for Claude Pro when you use our link – www.claude.ai/makeit Hello, Hello!  In this episode, hosts Chris Barkley and Nicholas Buggs dive into current...

WHAT IS FILM BRIEF? Blending journalism with artistry,  Film Brief  transforms film analysis into an engaging and informative listening experience. The goal is to reveal what makes each movie or series resonate—on screen and behind the scenes. For listeners, it’s not just a review; it’s an exploration of the art of filmmaking. BRIEF: In this Film Brief, Nick explores a young Black man's journe...

Hello, Hello! In this episode, Alex Ivey and Allison Inverness explore filmmaker Robert Broadhurst's dramatic career pivot from directing high-end luxury commercials for brands like Armani and Yeezy to creating minimalist, confrontational cinema designed to expose audience biases. They examine how his film "An Occurrence at Arvern" functions as a psychological Rorschach test, forcing v...

This episode is brought to you by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at www.shopify.com/makeit Hello, Hello!  In this episode, filmmaker and director Motke Dapp returns to discuss his journey from a nomadic childhood to becoming a successful commercial director and feature filmmaker. The conversation explores the realities of independent filmmaking, the importance of buildi...

Hello, Hello! In this Mistakes in the Making, Emmy-nominated actress Danielle Vega shares her hard-learned lessons about the critical importance of preparation in entertainment careers. She candidly discusses her early mistakes in red-carpet interviews in LA, where a lack of preparation led to embarrassing moments with guests she hadn't properly researched. Vega emphasizes that these failures...

Hello, Hello! In this episode, Colombian American writer-director Nick Lopez discusses his journey from an international upbringing to USC film school graduate, sharing insights about his award-winning short films, including "Milk Teeth" and "Sunshine Room." He opens up about the importance of representing queer and Latin American voices in cinema, his collaborative approach to fil...

This episode is brought to you by Anthropic. Claude is the AI for minds that don’t stop at good enough—it's the collaborator that actually understands your entire workflow and thinks WITH you, not for you. Ready to tackle bigger problems? Sign up for Claude Pro when you use our link – www.claude.ai/makeit This episode is brought to you by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial to...

Hello, Hello! WHAT IS FILM BRIEF? Blending journalism with artistry,  Film Brief  transforms film analysis into an engaging and informative listening experience. The goal is to reveal what makes each movie or series resonate—on screen and behind the scenes. For listeners, it’s not just a review; it’s an exploration of the art of filmmaking. BRIEF: In this episode, host Nick explores "Papillon,...

Hello, Hello! In this episode, Alex and Allison discuss actress Valerie Jane Parker's psychological toolkit for surviving the brutal entertainment industry, exploring how she built emotional armor through redefining success metrics and developing extraordinary empathy. They examine her unique upbringing with hippie-turned-pastor parents, her technical mastery of dialects, and her philosophy th...

This episode is brought to you by Anthropic. Claude is the AI for minds that don’t stop at good enough—it's the collaborator that actually understands your entire workflow and thinks WITH you, not for you. Ready to tackle bigger problems? Sign up for Claude Pro when you use our link – www.claude.ai/makeit This episode is brought to you by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial to...

Hello, Hello! WHAT IS FILM BRIEF? Blending journalism with artistry, Film Brief transforms film analysis into an engaging and informative listening experience. The goal is to reveal what makes each movie or series resonate—on screen and behind the scenes. For listeners, it’s not just a review; it’s an exploration of the art of filmmaking. BRIEF: In this episode, Nick explores "The Devil is Bus...

Hello, Hello! In this episode, Alex and Allison discuss the unexpected career pivot of Toronto talent agent Teri Ritter, who transitioned from a 30-year career in corporate accounting to managing actors. Inspired by her daughter Maya's success in film, Ritter applied her strategic planning skills to build a profitable roster. They highlight the importance of professionalism in the industry, th...

This episode is brought to you by Factor . No prep, no cooking. Just dietitian-approved, chef-prepared meals delivered to your door and ready to eat in 2 minutes. Go to https://factormeals.com/makeit50off and use the code MAKEIT50OFF to get 50% off your first Factor box PLUS free breakfast for 1 year. This episode is brought to you by Anthropic. Claude is the AI for minds that don’t stop at good e...

WHAT IS FILM BRIEF? Blending journalism with artistry,  Film Brief  transforms film analysis into an engaging and informative listening experience. The goal is to reveal what makes each movie or series resonate—on screen and behind the scenes. For listeners, it’s not just a review; it’s an exploration of the art of filmmaking. BRIEF: In this brief, host Nick explores Mary Bronstein's psycholog...

Hello, Hello! In this episode, Alex Ivey and Allison Inverness unpack a masterclass interview with independent filmmaker Derek Estlin Purvis, exploring the hidden mechanics of film financing and the entrepreneurial strategies behind successful indie filmmaking. They dive deep into Derek's three-pillar funding framework using equity, debt, and soft money, while examining his "skyscraper app...

Learn more about Jefferson White   here : Hello, Hello! Jefferson White   discusses his evolving definition of success in the entertainment industry, emphasizing the importance of having control over creative choices and working with people you care about. He reflects on how his goals have changed from wanting to get on a show like Yellowstone to now prioritizing creative fulfillment and collabora...

Learn more about Jefferson White   here : Hello, Hello! Jefferson White  discusses his top three films, including The Matrix Reloaded, In the Mood for Love, and three recent foreign language films that impressed him. The conversation covers his commitment to film education, particularly international cinema, and his honest admission about pretending to have seen films he hasn't watched. White...

Learn more about Jefferson White   here : Hello, Hello! Jefferson joins Producer Papa Bear for our "Things We Should Know" segment. The discussion reveals surprising facts about Academy Award winners from Iowa, including the remarkable achievement of Cloris Leachman as the only Iowa-born actor to win a BAFTA, Oscar, Golden Globe, and Emmy. The conversation features guest Jefferson White an...

Learn more about Jefferson White   here : Hello, Hello! Jefferson White joins us to discuss the art of acting, exploring how empathy plays a crucial role in bringing both villains and heroes to life on screen. We delve into audience poll results about whether movie villains deserve empathy, with 94% of listeners saying yes, and examine what makes a great actor through the lens of trying new approa...