Filmmaker Mixer

Joshua Marsh, costume designer for Monster: The Ed Gein Story, joins Filmmaker Mixer to discuss the creative process behind building the visual identity of one of television’s darkest true crime worlds. From research and collaboration to character psychology and historical texture, Joshua shares how costume design shapes storytelling on screen. This conversation is packed with insights for filmmak...

In this episode of Filmmaker Mixer, we sit down with director Arianna Ortiz to discuss her short film The Birthday Gift, adapted from Stephanie Alison Walker’s play The Abuelas. Arianna shares how she translated a stage story into a cinematic experience while maintaining emotional authenticity. We explore directing actors, navigating adaptation challenges, and how Arianna’s background in acting in...

Bonnie Gross, writer and producer of Lady Parts, joins Filmmaker Mixer to break down her journey from screening at the Austin Film Festival to securing distribution. She shares the real steps, challenges, and turning points that helped the film move beyond the festival circuit. This episode dives into the realities of indie film distribution—what works, what doesn’t, and how filmmakers can positio...

Emmy Award-winning composer Tyler Strickland joins Filmmaker Mixer to break down his work on John Candy: I Like Me, directed by Colin Hanks and produced by Ryan Reynolds. He shares how he approached scoring a beloved comedy icon while balancing nostalgia, emotion, and authenticity. Premiering at the Toronto Film Festival, the documentary presented unique challenges in tone, structure, and archival...

Clara and Julia Kuperberg join Filmmaker Mixer to discuss their latest documentary exploring Latino representation in Hollywood. Drawing from decades of research into American cinema, they break down how identity, power, and storytelling intersect on screen. In this episode, they share their creative process, challenges in documenting underrepresented voices, and what filmmakers can learn about cr...

In this episode of Filmmaker Mixer, we sit down with editor Eric Litman, ACE to explore the craft behind editing One Piece. From balancing tone to shaping large-scale action, Eric shares how the series comes together in the edit room. This conversation dives into the challenges of adapting a beloved anime into live-action, collaborating across departments, and making editorial decisions that serve...

Award-winning editor Mollie Goldstein joins Filmmaker Mixer to break down her editorial process on In the Blink of an Eye and Hot Water, including the creative decisions that helped bring Hot Water to Sundance. In this episode, Mollie shares how editors shape emotion, pacing, and narrative clarity—plus practical insights on collaboration, risk-taking in the edit, and preparing films for major fest...

In this episode of Filmmaker Mixer, editor Jay Prychidny (CCE) breaks down his work on Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, diving into the creative and technical challenges of shaping a film that blends horror, comedy, and suspense. Reuniting with directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, Jay shares how their collaborative process evolved in the edit room. From managing a massive amount of foota...

Editor Jeremy Cohen joins Filmmaker Mixer to break down his work on Over Your Dead Body, hitting theaters April 24. From shaping performances to building tension, Jeremy walks through the real decisions that define a film in the edit. This episode dives into pacing, tone, and the balance between thriller and dark comedy—plus how collaboration with the director and cast shaped the final cut. If you...

In this episode of Filmmaker Mixer, we sit down with screenwriter and educator William Akers, founder of Key to Storytelling, to explore how first-time filmmakers can successfully write their first feature or short film screenplay. From structuring your story to avoiding common beginner mistakes, this conversation is packed with practical guidance. Filmmakers will learn how to approach story struc...

Director Jacob Smith joins Filmmaker Mixer to discuss the making of Dancing on the Elephant, a heartfelt indie film about friendship, aging, and finding hope when life seems nearly finished. The story follows Nora and Edna, two retirement home residents who form an unlikely bond—and hatch one final adventure.

Executive Producer ZB Siwek joins Filmmaker Mixer to discuss the making of the sci-fi anthology Merge , a feature film built from award-winning short films exploring humanity’s relationship with advanced technology. Now streaming on Amazon Prime, Merge combines stories about AI, digital afterlives, and neural enhancement into a dystopian anthology often compared to Black Mirror . In this conversat...

Join cinematographer Wes Cardino as he takes us behind the lens of Nobody Wants This .  Whether you’re an aspiring cinematographer or an indie filmmaker, Wes shares practical tips on lighting, camera setups, and creating mood that supports story. Perfect for filmmakers wanting to elevate their craft.

Director Gabriel Bernini joins Filmmaker Mixer to discuss the making of Blood Barn, a retro supernatural slasher inspired by the gritty, low-budget horror films of the 1980s. Shot in just 11 days, the film embraces practical creature effects, DIY filmmaking, and the chaotic energy that defined classic cabin-in-the-woods splatter movies. The film was shot at Long View Farm Studios in Massachusetts,...

In this episode of Filmmaker Mixer , filmmaker J.R. Stokes joins us to discuss Beautiful Pam , a stark and emotionally grounded film following addiction, identity, and survival. Stokes breaks down the creative and practical decisions behind the film—from working within tight constraints to building trust with actors and crafting empathy without sentimentality. Filmmakers will gain insight into por...

What does it take to create a bold comedy pilot that lands at Slamdance? In this episode of Filmmaker Mixer, we talk with Zoe Tyson and Louie Rinaldi, the creators behind Daddies Boi. They break down writing razor-sharp comedy around aging and identity, directing emotionally risky material, and shaping a 14-minute pilot that feels expansive, funny, and dangerous. Filmmakers will learn about crafti...

In this episode of Filmmaker Mixer, editor Ralph Jean-Pierre joins us to discuss shaping The Beast in Me in the cutting room. From identifying the emotional spine of the story to navigating structural challenges, Ralph breaks down the real craft behind film editing. With credits including Tokyo Vice, Servant, The Boys, and Lost in Space, Ralph shares insights from both premium television and featu...

Director Drew Kirsch joins Filmmaker Mixer to discuss the making of the action-thriller He Bled Neon. In this conversation, Kirsch breaks down the visual style, action design, and directing choices that shaped the film. Starring Joe Cole, Rita Ora, and Marshawn Lynch, He Bled Neon premieres at the 2026 SXSW Film & TV Festival in the Narrative Spotlight section. Drew shares how the project came...

At SXSW 2026, directors Jack Zagha Kababie and Yossy Zagha premiere FIFTEEN, a bold coming-of-age horror film where a quinceañera spirals into something monstrous. In this Filmmaker Mixer episode, we break down the creative decisions behind blending cultural tradition with body horror. We explore creature design, directing young actors, staging large celebration scenes under tension, and navigatin...

Writer/director Peter Warren joins Filmmaker Mixer to discuss his SXSW film KILL ME, a gripping dark comedy thriller starring Charlie Day and Allison Williams. The film follows a man who wakes up in a bathtub with his wrists slit—but insists he didn’t do it—launching a bizarre amateur murder investigation to prove someone else tried to kill him. In this conversation, Warren breaks down how he blen...

Ahead of the World Premiere of THE SNAKE at SXSW 2026, we sit down with director Jenna MacMillan to talk about bringing the film to life. Written by and starring Susan Kent, this dark comedy follows a self-destructive 40-something searching for “home.” In this episode of Filmmaker Mixer, Jenna discusses how the project came together—from balancing sharp humor with emotional truth to shaping perfor...

Director Marq Evans joins Filmmaker Mixer to discuss Capturing Bigfoot , the documentary revisiting the infamous 1967 Patterson footage—arguably the most analyzed 60 seconds of film ever shot. Premiering at SXSW, the film centers on a rediscovered 16mm reel and the untold story from Patterson’s own son. Evans breaks down archival restoration, documentary structure, and navigating belief versus ske...

What does it take to color an entire afterlife? In this episode of Filmmaker Mixer , we’re joined by colorist and Elemental Post co-creator David Tomiak to break down his work on A24’s Eternity . David discusses collaborating from pre-production, drawing from mid-century cinema, building custom film grain inspired by early Eastman stock, and balancing playful detail with visual consistency. We div...

Award-winning editors Lam T. Nguyen and Austin Keeling join Filmmaker Mixer to break down their work on Amazon’s sci-fi thriller Mercy , starring Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson. They dive deep into building previs in the edit, animating every on-screen graphic, shaping immersive AI POVs, and condensing massive action sequences—while collaborating closely with director Timur Bekmambetov, VFX, and...

Movie makeup isn’t about beauty—it’s about belief. It’s about building faces that feel lived-in, truthful, and emotionally connected to the story. And that belief only works when every community can see itself reflected on screen. True cinematic makeup means understanding and tailoring products, techniques, and textures to the full spectrum of skin tones—so that all actors are lit, matched, and re...