Filmmaker Mixer

Cinematographer Shawn Peters joins the Filmmaker Mixer Podcast to talk about bringing A Different World into a new era for Netflix. Shawn discusses the challenge of moving the beloved series from its original multi-cam format to single-cam, while preserving its spirit. He also reflects on his experience shooting short films on 16mm, his love of still photography, and the creative philosophy that i...

How do you create the visual richness of a period painting while keeping a film emotionally intimate and natural? Cinematographer Arnaud Potier joins the Filmmaker Mixer Podcast to discuss his work on Sense and Sensibility, directed by Georgia Oakley, and the creative decisions behind the film's distinctive visual language. In this conversation, Arnaud breaks down the decision to shoot on 35mm fil...

Cinematographer Justin Sebastian joins Filmmaker Mixer to take us behind the camera on Hunting Matthew Nichols. Justin discusses developing the film's visual language, working with locations and light, choosing camera movement and composition, and finding creative solutions within the realities of independent filmmaking. Whether you're a cinematographer, director, film student, or indie filmmaker,...

How do you create suspense around a creature the audience can't fully see? VFX Supervisor Matt Glover joins Filmmaker Mixer to discuss the making of Netflix's Below, a six-part thriller set and filmed in Newfoundland. The series stars Josh Hartnett, Mackenzie Davis and Charlie Heaton and combines real coastal locations with sophisticated visual effects to create its mysterious sea creature...

Costume designer Liz Vastola joins Filmmaker Mixer to take us behind the scenes of Best of the Best and reveal how costume design helps build character, establish the visual world of a film, and tell story without dialogue. Liz discusses her creative process, research, fittings, collaboration with directors and other departments, continuity challenges, and the practical realities of designing cost...

Actress and writer Alli Brown joins Filmmaker Mixer to talk about NUKE, the dark comedy she wrote and stars in about a struggling comedian who exploits the fallout from a nuclear missile threat to get onto a coveted comedy showcase. Directed by Kelsea Bauman-Murphy, NUKE has screened at festivals including the Lower East Side Film Festival, Oak Cliff Film Festival, and Nót Film Festival in Italy....

How do you bring iconic comic-book characters into the real world? On this episode of Filmmaker Mixer, we sit down with Cynthia Summers, the costume designer behind HBO’s Lanterns , to explore how she created the grounded visual identity of the series. Cynthia takes us inside the creative process—from developing contemporary streetwear and distinct looks for John Stewart and Hal Jordan to using si...

Director Cyrus Neshvad joins Filmmaker Mixer to discuss Child , his debut feature about a couple willing to cross every boundary to save their son. The psychological horror film premiered at the 2026 Raindance Film Festival, and Child has been selected to represent Luxembourg in the 2027 Oscar and Goya races. Cyrus takes us behind the scenes of the filmmaking process—from creating suspense and psy...

What does it really take to get an independent film distributed? In this episode of the Filmmaker Mixer Podcast, Richard Wolff of Breaking Glass Pictures shares how distributors evaluate films, the biggest mistakes filmmakers make, and what today's marketplace actually looks like. We also discuss festivals, streaming platforms, AI, marketing, financing, and where independent film distribution...

We’re welcoming Susie Carter back to the Filmmaker Mixer, along with producer Rick Mountcastle, to talk about No Country for Old People and the extraordinary response to the documentary—including its role in inspiring the first-ever national walk for reform on September 27.This is a conversation about storytelling, filmmaking, and the power of a story to create real-world action.

Award-winning director and writer Tessa Blake joins Filmmaker Mixer to discuss her feature directorial and writing debut, If I Tell You, starring Academy Award-nominated Carol Kane. Based on Lisa O’Donnell’s novel Closed Doors, the film explores trauma, family, community, and a 12-year-old boy’s changing understanding of the world. Tessa takes us behind the filmmaking decisions—from shooting in th...

Writer-director Ryan Moore, producer Ben Whalen and actress Grace Kaufman join the Filmmaker Mixer Podcast to discuss INFLUENCE, Freestyle Digital Media's psychological horror starring Kaufman and Cheyenne Perez ( The Pitt ). The film follows a struggling filmmaker whose obsession with an influencer turns into a terrifying hostage situation. The filmmakers take us inside the creative and pract...

Writer, director, producer, and editor Houston Bone joins Filmmaker Mixer to discuss Son of Sara: Volume 1 , a disturbing body-horror film about a pregnant woman whose strange urges and visions lead her into a bloody dinner-party nightmare. Bone discusses the creative choices behind the film, working with actors, building tension, practical horror, and finding the right balance between showing and...

Director Ben Masters joins Filmmaker Mixer to take us behind the making of Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers , the highly anticipated sequel to Deep in the Heart: A Texas Wildlife Story . Ben shares how his team spent three years filming mountain lions, river otters, snapping turtles, whooping cranes, and the waterways that connect Texas wildlife. We dig into wildlife cinematography, working with...

Producer James Delhauer and writer/director Micah Delhauer join the Filmmaker Mixer Podcast to discuss Blood Magick, an indie horror film about a foul-mouthed, hungover witch who becomes the unlikely hope for five strangers hiding from the forces of Hell. Go behind the scenes of the filmmaking process, from developing the unusual central character and balancing horror with dark comedy to creating...

Director Ryan Little and writer/producer McKay Daines join the Filmmaker Mixer Podcast to discuss the making of The Third Degree. From developing the story to navigating production challenges, they share the creative decisions that shaped the film. Filmmakers will learn about directing, writing, producing, collaboration, and the realities of bringing an independent film from idea to screen. Discov...

What happened after the smoke cleared and the rubble was removed from Ground Zero? 9/11: RECLAIMING GROUND ZERO tells the remarkable story of how New York confronted one of the most difficult questions imaginable: what should be built on the site of the World Trade Center? In this episode of the Filmmaker Mixer Podcast, we go behind the scenes with the filmmakers of a powerful documentary about th...

Writer/director Ophelia Harutyunyan joins Filmmaker Mixer to discuss Fried Chicken and Strip Checkers, a deeply personal film rooted in the reality of 2000s Armenia. Ophelia explains how she combined fiction and documentary instincts, practical production design, real archival footage, personal family objects, and a cast of young actors to create an authentic world. For filmmakers and film student...

Twila LaBar and Dr. Nancy Krenek join the Filmmaker Mixer Podcast to discuss Where the Horses Heal the Soul, a documentary following the remarkable work of ROCK—Ride On Center for Kids—and the life-changing bond between therapy horses and the people they serve. We explore documentary storytelling, building trust with real-life subjects, capturing authentic emotion, and the creative decisions behin...

Writer-director Khizer Khani joins the Filmmaker Mixer Podcast to discuss making an ambitious dystopian sci-fi feature in just 12.5 shooting days. He shares the production choices that protected the story, stretched a limited budget, and created a believable futuristic world without expensive visual effects. If you're an indie filmmaker, film student, or festival fan, you'll come away with...

Jennifer M. Kay joins the Filmmaker Mixer Podcast to talk about CERTIFIABLE, the comedy web series she created while taking on multiple roles including writer, director, producer and actor. The series follows actresses Lex and Gabby as they navigate the chaos of their careers, and the first season earned significant recognition on the festival circuit. Jennifer takes us behind the scenes of creati...

Writer-director Andrew David Paterson, producer-actor Hazel Hering and actor Oliver Austin join Filmmaker Mixer to discuss the feature film AMERICAN FLAKE, an indie comedy that explores grief, friendship, and growing up through authentic, character-driven storytelling inspired by their hometown of Eugene, Oregon. Learn how they cast a first-time actor, balanced comedy with emotional depth, and bui...

What does it take to create the explosive action of Tulsa King ? Three-time Emmy-nominated stunt coordinator and second unit director Freddie Poole joins Filmmaker Mixer to break down the craft behind Tulsa King stunts. Freddie takes us inside the Episode 2 home-invasion fight, the massive Grand Hotel explosion, the Dunmire compound assault, and the climactic Dwight vs. Dunmire showdown. He also d...

Based on the inspiring true story of Shalin Shah, Paper Flowers transforms a rare cancer diagnosis into a remarkable story of love, gratitude, and purpose. Writer/director Mahesh Pailoor and writer/producer Asit Vyas join the Filmmaker Mixer Podcast to discuss adapting real life into a compelling feature film and the creative decisions behind every emotional moment. Whether you're an indie fil...

Emmy-nominated Makeup Department Head Corey Castellano joins the Filmmaker Mixer Podcast to discuss the incredible prosthetic and period makeup behind Monster: The Ed Gein Story. From transforming Charlie Hunnam into Ed Gein to creating realistic aging effects under unforgiving high-definition cameras, Corey shares how his team brought one of television's most challenging characters to life. T...