Filmmaker Mixer

What does the Shaka really mean—and where did it come from? In this episode of Filmmaker Mixer , filmmaker Steve Sue takes us inside his five-year documentary journey behind Shaka: A Story of Aloha , a playful investigative film tracing the origins of Hawaii’s most iconic hand gesture. From archival research and cultural storytelling to unexpected connections across surfing, pop culture, and histo...

Director Mike Zarra joins Filmmaker Mixer to break down the making of Horrified — from crafting psychological tension to executing horror on an indie budget. He shares the creative decisions, production challenges, and post-production strategies that shaped the film’s final cut. Joining the conversation is Jennifer Howell, founder of The Art of Elysium and the film’s fiscal sponsor. Together, they...

From forgotten homesteads to treasured family heirlooms, Matthew and Katie Avant believe history lives in the objects we choose to keep. In this episode, we sit down with Nashville-based, award-winning director Matthew Avant and producer Katie Avant, creators of the documentary adventure series ROOTS & RELICS. Matthew and Katie take us behind the scenes of the show, where host JD Hart travels...

Composer Geoff Zanelli joins Filmmaker Mixer to break down his bold, experimental score for Gore Verbinski’s Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die, opening February 13. From punk and Zappa influences to orchestral chaos, this score was designed to be anything—and everything. Zanelli dives into his collaborative process with Verbinski, recording nearly 100 musicians, transforming cello into new sonic text...

What does it take to scare an audience with music ? In this episode, we sit down with composers Stuart Roslyn and Chris Elmslie , creators of the chilling score for Nightmares of Nature . Together, they break down how cinematic music is crafted to manipulate emotion, build dread, and elevate storytelling—especially in documentary and genre filmmaking. From experimenting with organic and unnatural...

Writer and co-director Shaun Wu joins Filmmaker Mixer to unpack the making of HENRY BY THE HOUR , an inventive indie series about a 30-something Asian man who rents himself out as a friend—spending one hour each with five different clients. Shaun breaks down how the film’s high-concept premise shaped the screenplay, how to write multiple characters through a single protagonist, and what it takes t...

Step inside the eerie, enchanting world of The Littles with writer/director Andrew Duplessie and head of animation Anthony Scott . In this episode, we break down the creative process behind the visually haunting and emotionally powerful animated film. The film follows 11-year-old Juliet, who stubs her toe on a loose floorboard—only to witness a mysterious glow and unsettling noises coming from ben...

Director and Executive Producer Stephen Surjik joins us to break down the making of Netflix’s new Western series The Abandons—a gloriously bloody, female-led frontier drama already being compared to Yellowstone. Set in the lawless 1850s Washington Territory, The Abandons follows a brutal land feud between two formidable matriarchs, played by Gillian Anderson and Lena Headey. Stephen walks us throu...

What makes a horror moment linger long after the credits roll? Often, it’s not what you see—it’s what you feel. In this episode, we sit down with Edward Douglas, VFX Supervisor on Longlegs and Keeper, to explore how practical effects, subtle design choices, and restraint create unforgettable fear. Edward breaks down how modern horror uses texture, imperfection, and realism to bypass jump scares an...

Writer-director Austin Glasser joins Filmmaker Mixer to discuss his short film The Writer , which premiered at the Austin Film Festival and stars Neal McDonough, Jefferson White, and Sara Paxton. In this conversation, Austin breaks down writing with restraint, directing seasoned actors, navigating production limitations, and shaping a short film for festival audiences. Filmmakers will learn practi...

What does it really take to design horror makeup for a feature film? In this episode of Filmmaker Mixer, we sit down with makeup designer Sian Richards to break down her work on the horror feature Sinners. Sian dives into creative decision-making, practical effects, collaboration with directors and DPs, and the real challenges of executing horror makeup on an indie feature. Filmmakers will learn h...

What do great visual effects actually look like? Hint: you’re not supposed to notice them. In this episode, we sit down with Eran Dinur, VFX Supervisor on MARTY SUPREME, to break down how modern visual effects are designed to disappear into story, performance, and cinematography. From subtle enhancements to large-scale problem solving, Eran reveals how VFX can elevate a film without ever calling a...

Step into the world where fearless athletes meet fearless filmmaking . In this episode, we sit down with Vincent Kardasik , the three-time Emmy Award–winning cinematographer and producer behind HBO’s 100 Foot Wave . From chasing monster swells across continents to capturing the raw emotional journey of Garrett McNamara and the world’s most elite surfers, Vincent reveals how he turns the ocean’s mo...

Step inside the sonic world of Jeff Toyne , the acclaimed composer known for blending orchestral virtuosity , modern technology , and a deeply story-driven musical voice . In this episode, Jeff breaks down his recent work on Apple TV’s Palm Royale , starring Kristen Wiig, Laura Dern, and Carol Burnett—explaining how he effortlessly merges jazz , Latin rhythms , and orchestral color to evoke the lu...

Award-winning filmmaker Susie Singer Carter , director of the powerful documentary No Country for Old People , sits down with us to reveal the shocking truths inside America’s broken elder-care system. From understaffed nursing homes to the emotional toll on families, Susie exposes what’s really happening behind closed doors — and what we can do to change it. In this episode, we explore Susie’s pe...

Step inside the dark, emotionally charged world of Sacrificios, the Mexican psychological horror thriller which made its World Premiere at the 2025 Austin Film Festival. In this episode, we sit down with Writer/Director Mauricio Chernovetzky and Writer Alexander Ioshpe to explore the film’s haunting origins, personal inspirations, and the profound examination of grief, faith, and the impossible ch...

Director Ritesh Gupta ( The Red Mask ) joins us for a deep dive into his bold new horror film which premiered at FrightFest 2025 . The Red Mask stars Helena Howard , Inanna Sarkis , Jake Abel , and Kelli Garner — and it’s not your typical slasher. Ritesh reveals how this meta-thriller flips the remake trope, explores the war between creators and fans, and uses horror as a lens for cultural identit...

Step inside the visionary minds of writer/director duo Kerry Carlock and Nick Lund-Ulrich and producer Jennifer Sorenson, the filmmaking team behind the bold and genre-bending fantasy film SUFFER. Blending the American West with mythic fantasy, SUFFER follows Ida Blye, a young handmaiden with traumatic wounds and dangerous magic, on a feminist quest to dismantle the Scarlet Prince’s dark reign. In...

In this episode, we sit down with Production Designer Brittany Hites , the creative force behind REGRETTING YOU — the emotional new film starring Allison Williams and Mckenna Grace , based on the bestselling novel by Colleen Hoover . Brittany takes us behind the scenes to explore how production design shapes storytelling — from visualizing grief and betrayal to creating spaces that reflect healing...

Step inside the unsettling world of Self-Help, the internet-fueled cult thriller acquired by Cineverse and Bloody Disgusting for a North American VOD and streaming release. In this exclusive conversation, Emmy Award–winning director Erik Bloomquist reveals the inspirations and creative process behind the film, which follows a college student who infiltrates a dangerous “self-actualization” communi...

In this episode, we sit down with award-winning filmmaker Zoé Eisenberg , writer and director of Chaperone — the acclaimed age-gap romance drama that’s taking Hawai‘i (and the indie world) by storm. After its world premiere at Slamdance , where it won the Jury Award for Best Breakout Feature , Chaperone has captivated audiences across the islands during its limited theatrical run — and now availab...

Step inside the world where music brings characters, creatures, and entire universes to life. In this episode, we sit down with Trevor Hoffmann , a celebrated video game and children’s animation composer whose diverse musical upbringing—spanning classical piano, church music, orchestral composition, Southern gospel, indie touring, and EDM ghost writing—shapes his unmistakable sound. Trevor has com...

From Disney to espionage, composer Curtis Green is crafting soundtracks that move the world. As the composer of Daniel Dae Kim’s new spy thriller series Butterfly , Curtis brings cinematic depth and emotional tension to a story of secrets, identity, and danger. A longtime protégé of Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino ( UP, Inside Out, Coco ), Curtis has scored acclaimed Disney+ projects incl...

Step behind the magic (and the mayhem) with Chelsea Bruland, stunt coordinator for Disney’s Descendants: The Rise of Red. In this episode, Chelsea shares how she built the action world of Auradon — where fairy tale royalty, rebellion, and high-energy musical sequences collide. From designing fight choreography that’s both safe and spectacular, to balancing Disney magic with real-world stunt precis...

Award-winning editor Michael P. Shawver (known for his work on Black Panther and Creed ) joins us to discuss his latest project, Sinners . In this episode, we dive deep into the craft of film editing—how pacing shapes suspense, how choices in rhythm and structure build tension, and what it takes to bring a director’s vision to life in the editing room. Shawver reveals behind-the-scenes insights on...