Filmmaker and Fan's Podcast

Episode Summary Hey everyone! We're taking a few weeks off for summer projects and rest here in Austin and Los Angeles. We'll be back on July 3rd with an all-new episode and some exciting summer 2026 announcements. Until then, head on over to www.filmmakersbookoften.com and pick up a copy of our new book, The Filmmaker's Book of Ten - it makes a great summer read. ; ) See ya soon!  Series Overview...

Episode Summary [Re-release: originally published October 11th, 2024, as episode 31] In this week’s episode, Steve and Vince break down a scene from the 2002 film “Catch Me If You Can” and explore topics such as the intricacies of directing dialogue-driven scenes, the importance of tension and stakes in storytelling, and the role of patience and listening in acting. As a reminder, if you're enjoyi...

Episode Summary [Re-release: originally published February 1st, 2024, as Filmmaker and Fan's inaugural episode] In this episode, Steve and Vince explore the 1954 film classic "Rear Window", directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Using the Hitchcock classic as their foundation, they talk about everything from understanding your craft as a director to the subjective nature of art. As a reminder, if you're en...

Episode Summary [Re-release: originally published June 21st, 2024, as episode 15] In this episode, Steve and Vince talk with award-winning director and cinematographer Ernest Dickerson. As a cinematographer, Ernest is known for his frequent collaborations with Spike Lee on films such as “Do The Right Thing” and “Malcolm X”. As a director, he’s known for films such as “Juice” (1992) and “Tales from...

Episode Summary [Re-release: originally published July 5th, 2024, as episode 17] In this episode, Steve and Vince talk with actor, writer, and comedian Tom Walker. Tom is an English actor and comedian best known for playing the viral sensation Jonathan Pie, a fictional news reporter who rants and raves to the camera about the state of modern politics. His viral videos have given rise to live tours...

Episode Summary In this episode, Steve and Vince explore the 1976 film, “All the President's Men”. Using All the President's Men as their foundation, they explore topics such as cinematography and shot composition techniques, creating tension without traditional action elements, and the impact of technology on storytelling. As a reminder, if you're enjoying this podcast, feel free to follow us on...

Episode Summary In this episode, Steve and Vince talk with Austin-based indie filmmaking duo William Magnuson & Max Perkins. Using Will and Max's latest short film as their foundation (The Busboy), they explore topics such as community support in film production, practical effects and visual storytelling techniques, and their journey from high school film projects to creating their latest dystopia...

Episode Summary In this episode, Vince talks with film financing expert Sean Rappleyea. Using Sean’s recent financing projects as their foundation, they explore topics such as common misconceptions in film financing, the importance of relationships to investors, and innovative approaches to funding and distribution in today's evolving market. As a reminder, if you're enjoying this podcast, feel fr...

Episode Summary In this (bite-sized) episode, Vince introduces a new FAF segment, sharing top headlines and insights from the film and entertainment industry for April 2026. He covers labor negotiations, studio restructuring, major film releases, and industry trends for the week of April 2-9. As a reminder, if you're enjoying this podcast, feel free to follow us on Apple Podcasts and Instagram @fi...

In this episode, Vince explores two of his favorite sections from The Filmmaker's Book of Ten through Christopher Nolan's "Inception" and Damien Chazelle's "La La Land". Using the official screenplays for both Inception and La La Land as his foundation, Vince explores topics such as the importance of mystery in screenwriting, how understanding different filmmaking languages enhances the storytelli...

Episode Summary In this episode, Steve and Vince talk with documentary filmmaker Chip Mabry Using Chip’s recent documentary as their foundation ("Karaoke from Hell"), they explore topics such as his journey from television news to independent filmmaking, the challenges and creative decisions involved in producing documentaries on a budget, and the unique aspects of editing documentaries compared t...

Episode Summary In this episode, Steve and Vince explore the comedy franchise, "Scary Movie". Using Scary Movie as their foundation, they explore topics such as the role of farce and parody in comedy, managing chaos and collaboration during fast-paced shoots, and techniques for balancing realism and surrealism.  As a reminder, if you're enjoying this podcast, feel free to follow us on Apple Podcas...

Episode Summary [Re-release: originally published August 8th, 2025, as episode 74] In this episode, Steve and Vince talk with first-time indie filmmaker Alexandra Robinson. Using Alex’s recent short film (“Meatball”) as their foundation, they explore topics such as her transition from YouTube to professional filmmaking, the challenges of directing and acting simultaneously, and the significance of...

Episode Summary [Re-release: originally published June 14th, 2024, as episode 14] "In this week’s episode, Steve and Vince talk with award-winning film and TV composer Ian Arber.  Ian's worked on everything from TV series (BBC, Netflix, Disney+, and more ) to award-winning documentaries and feature films. He recently won Best Original Score - Documentary Series - for “Ed Sheeran: The Sum of It All...

Episode Summary [Re-release: originally published April 18th 2025, as episode 58] In this episode, Steve talks with award-winning film editor Nathan Orloff. Nathan is an editor known for his work on recent films such as Saturday Night (2024), Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024), John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023), Ghostbusters: Afterlife  (2021), and Plan B (2021). In their conversation, Steve and Nathan...

Episode Summary In this episode, Steve and Vince welcome back special guest and friend of the podcast, Peter Debruge, Chief Film Critic for Variety. In their conversation, they explore topics such as the current state of film festivals, particularly Sundance, the impact of streaming, and the importance of diverse voices in storytelling. As a reminder, if you're enjoying this podcast, follow us on...

Episode Summary In this episode, Steve and Vince discuss the current state of AI in filmmaking and explore topics such as the integration of AI into film production, the significance of human connection in storytelling, and the future of independent film in the age of AI. As a reminder, if you're enjoying this podcast, follow us on Apple Podcasts and Instagram @filmmakerandfanspodcast, and remembe...

Episode Summary They're back! Sort of... Steve and Vince will return from their hiatus in the next few weeks (some EXCITING news and updates coming soon!), but for now, Filmmaker and Fan's Media is excited to announce the launch of its very first book: The Filmmaker's Book of Ten! In this special episode, Steve and Vince talk about The Filmmaker's Book of Ten , a newly released, high-impact resour...

Episode Summary [Re-release: originally published August 1st, 2025, as episode 73] In this episode, Steve and Vince talk with industry-leading entertainment marketing executive Denise Parkinson. Denise is an industry expert in all aspects of entertainment marketing and is currently the Vice President of Business Development at Allied Global Marketing, a full-service marketing agency working with t...

Episode Summary [Re-release: originally published February 9th, 2024 as episode 2] In this episode, Steve and Vince explore the 2017 film "Lady Bird", written and directed by Greta Gerwig. Using “Lady Bird” as their foundation, they explore topics such as Greta Gerwig's transition from acting to directing, the importance of character development in storytelling, and the complex relationship dynami...

Episode Summary [Re-release: originally published April 26th, 2024 as episode 7] In this episode, Steve and Vince have a conversation about the 2019 award-winning film, “Uncut Gems”. Using Uncut Gems as their foundation, they explore topics such as the collaborative partnership between Adam Sandler and the Safdie brothers, the search for like-minded individuals who can challenge and stimulate the...

Episode Summary [Re-release: originally published November 29th, 2024 as episode 38] In this episode, Steve talks with award-winning Hollywood sound mixer Tony Solis. Tony is an Emmy and CAS-winning re-recording mixer and is known for his work on films such as Woman of the Hour (2023), Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022), Hustle (2002), and Steve’s upcoming film, GRQ the Movie. Steve and Tony expl...

Episode Summary [Re-release: originally published July 25th, 2024 as episode 72] In this episode, Steve and Vince talk with award-winning indie filmmaking duo, Carl Fry & Maxwell Nalevansky. Using Carl and Maxwell’s latest indie feature film as their foundation (Rats!), they explore topics such as their journey in independent filmmaking as a creative team, the growing need for originality in filmm...

Episode Summary [Re-release: originally published August 23rd, 2024 as episode 24] In this episode, Steve and Vince explore the 2023 film, “Sing Sing”. Using Sing Sing as their foundation, they explore topics such as the benefits and challenges of working with non-actors, ethical considerations of portraying real-life stories, and the role of art in providing agency and reordering the world. As a...

Episode Summary [Re-release: originally published July 11th, 2025 as episode 70] In this episode, Steve and Vince talk with Australian actress and indie filmmaker, Ella Cannon. Using Ella’s latest series pilot project as their foundation (“The Yacht Club”), they explore topics such as her experiences transitioning from acting to directing, the community impact of AI on the filmmaking industry, and...