Get Reelisms | An Ode to Filmmaking

Stealing Shots and Breaking In: Kevin Huey on AD Life, DGA, and Producing Angelino On the Get Reelisms podcast (episode 198), hosts Adam Chase Rani and Christine Chen talk with assistant director and producer Kevin Huie about breaking into filmmaking, moving from non-union work into the DGA, and transitioning into producing. Kevin shares starting in theater at UC Riverside, interning on sets, work...

Radiation Week 2, Proof of Concept Plans, and the Dangers of “AI Psychosis” Adam Chase Rani and Christine Chen host the Get Reelisms podcast (around episode 196), discussing indie filmmaking pressures and life balance after Adam’s 2022 burnout from putting life on hold for career milestones. Christine shares updates that week two of radiation is done and she feels physically fine, while also comin...

Get Reelisms Podcast Ep. 196: Zuzena Magsino on Breaking In, Community, AD Life, and AI in Film On episode 196 of the Get Reelisms podcast, hosts Adam Chase Rani and Christine Chen interview actor and assistant director Zuzena Magzino about her path into entertainment, from show choir and dance auditions to overcoming fear of being recorded and posting social content. After a five-year hiatus and...

Feeling Stagnant During Radiation: Filmmaking, Control, and Creative Renewal On episode 195 of the Get Reelisms podcast, filmmakers Adam Chase Rani and Christine Chen discuss Christine finishing week one of six weeks of radiation for an oligodendroglioma brain tumor, alongside fertility treatment, and how the invisible progress and grant rejections make her feel stagnant and ungrounded without bei...

n episode 194 of the Get Reelisms podcast, filmmakers Adam Chase Rani and Christine Chen discuss Christine’s recent health crisis: after an MRI on May 1, doctors found a brain tumor, and she is scheduled for surgery on May 19 to remove it. Christine describes sporadic focal seizures starting the previous summer, including brief left-side freezes while fully conscious, one occurring publicly at a C...

In episode 193 of the Get Reelisms podcast, hosts Adam Chase Rani and Christine Chen talk with Mylene “Mai” Briggs of Keelab Media, a producer, writer, director, marketer, and mom with production companies in Los Angeles and Ottawa. Mai and Christine share how they met through Film Girls Brunch and discuss navigating LA’s isolating, competitive film scene by intentionally building community, inclu...

Fellowship App Hell, Strategic TV Directing Pitches, and Why Verticals Are the New Wild West On the Get Reelisms podcast, filmmakers Adam Chase Rani and Christine Chen catch up on recent festival news and Christine’s birthday, then dive into “fellowship app hell season,” comparing repeated lab applications and essay-writing to endlessly applying to colleges with no clear feedback. Christine shares...

On Get Reelisms Podcast episode 191, hosts Adam Chase Rani and Christine Chen interview filmmaker/producer/AD and occasional actor Avid (“Avi”) from Puppy Love Productions about becoming a “multi-tool” on set, especially in vertical productions. Avi recounts starting as a high-school editor on Final Cut Pro 7, continuing filmmaking while majoring in chemistry/biochemistry due to family pressure, l...

Verticals, Unions, and AI: The Wild West of New Filmmaking | Get Reelisms Ep. 190 In episode 190 of the Get Reelisms podcast, filmmakers Adam Chase Rani and Christine Chen talk about Christine’s desert trip to see a meteor shower, her deliberate hiatus from AD work to regain creative peace, and her return to making fast, low-budget sketch comedy—especially vertical YouTube/Instagram sketches—throu...

On the Get Reelisms Podcast, filmmakers Madam Chase Rani and Christine Chen interview Austin director Jon Vallet about his new film American Dollhouse, which just premiered at South by Southwest and launched its festival run with an Austin “film family” crew. Vallet says the movie uses a character-driven, proto-slasher approach inspired by films like Psycho and Black Christmas, using modern anxiet...

Adam Chase Rani and Christine Chen celebrate reaching 188 episodes of the Get Reelisms filmmaking podcast and reflect on nearly six to seven years of documenting their careers. They discuss recent Oscars results, including a tie and Sam Davis winning after their interview, and debate why genre films like Sinners may struggle for Best Picture despite winning Best Original Screenplay, while One Batt...

Sam Davis on Making Oscar-Nominated Short ‘The Singers’ Without a Script, Casting Viral Buskers, and Shooting on Film On Get Reelisms podcast episode 187, filmmakers Adam Chase Rani and Christine Chen interview Los Angeles–based filmmaker Sam Davis, who is campaigning his live-action short The Singers, nominated for an Academy Award and streaming on Netflix. Davis traces the project back 3–3.5 yea...

Verticals, Hustle, and the Future of Filmmaking (Get Reelisms Ep. 186) On Get Reelisms podcast episode 186, filmmakers Adam Chase Rani and Christine Chen discuss being exhausted but grateful for steady work while others in Austin and Texas struggle despite talk of bigger film tax incentives. They say vertical short-form productions are “single handedly saving Hollywood,” with money coming from mar...

Star Flare: Reclaiming Agency, Building a Fun Set, and the Pain of Crowdfunding (Get Reelisms Ep. 185) On Get Reelisms Podcast episode 185, hosts Adam Chase Rani and Christine Chen interview actor-writer-producer Laura Ricci about making her fantasy romance short film Star Flare. Laura describes feeling powerless as an actor and deciding to create her own work after living in Los Angeles for nearl...

Texas Film Industry Thrives: Incentives, Expendables, and Community Stories In this episode of the Get Reelisms podcast, hosts Adam Chase Rani and Christine Chen welcome special guest Chris Bigbie, owner of Dependable Expendables. They discuss Texas's booming film industry, driven by recent tax incentives, and the role of local companies like Dependable Expendables in supporting productions. Chris...

The Get Reelisms Podcast Episode #183: Set Culture, Stress, and Filmmaking Trials In this episode of the Get Reelisms Podcast, Episode 183, hosts Adam Chase Rani and Christine Chen, delve into the complexities of set culture and the emotional challenges of filmmaking. Adam shares a detailed and vulnerable recount of a stressful shoot, discussing issues such as miscommunication with the director, s...

Navigating Indie Filmmaking: From Production Challenges to Festival Strategies In this episode of the Get Reelisms podcast, hosts Adam Chase Rani and Christine Chen, both seasoned filmmakers, discuss the intricate dynamics of indie filmmaking. They explore the challenges directors face when transitioning from producing due to necessity to working with investors who have the final say on creative d...

Innovating On-Set Communication: A Conversation with Onset Headsets Founder Matt In this episode of the Get Reelisms Podcast, hosts Adam Chase Rani and Christine Chen dive into a discussion with special guest Matt, founder of Onset Headsets. The conversation covers Matt's journey from working in film production as an Assistant Director (AD) to founding a company that innovates communication gear f...

Welcome to episode 180 of the Get Reelisms Podcast! Hosted by filmmakers Adam Chase Rani and Christine Chen, this episode dives deep into the realities of working in the film industry. Adam and Christine discuss the inevitable struggles of unpaid work, the importance of resilience, and the value of loving what you do. They also reminisce about their five-year journey of hosting the podcast, recoun...

Join hosts Christine Chen and Adam Chase Rani on Episode 179 of the Get Reelisms Podcast as they dive into a fascinating conversation with special guest Rob Spera, a seasoned film and television director, and educator at the American Film Institute. Spera shares invaluable insights about the filmmaking industry, discussing his work with Ride Back Rise, a fellowship program supporting mid-career pe...

Adam Chase Rani and Christine Chen from the Get Reelisms podcast discuss their recent film experiences, including Christine's encounter with Steven Spielberg and Leonardo DiCaprio at a film screening, and her new status as an Academy member. The episode offers insights into the exclusive world of prestigious film screenings and the realities of living in Los Angeles. They also talk about the chall...

Navigating the Challenges of Independent Filmmaking: Insights from '25 Cats from Qatar' Director In this episode of the Get Reelisms podcast, hosts Adam Chase Rani and Christine Chen welcome back indie documentary filmmaker Mye Hoang to discuss her latest film '25 Cats from Qatar.' Mye shares her experiences and challenges while touring the film, dealing with distribution, and employing innovative...

In episode 176 of the Get Reelisms Podcast, hosts Adam Chase Rani and Christine Chen discuss the demanding nature of film production and how it impacts their personal lives. They share behind-the-scenes insights into their recent filmmaking experiences, particularly focusing on the rise and intricacies of vertical short-form dramas. The hosts also delve into the challenges faced due to industry ch...

In this episode of the Get Reelisms podcast, hosts Adam Chase Rani and Christine Chen discuss their latest challenges in the filmmaking industry, focusing on Christine's recent experience of having her laptop stolen from her car. They talk about the importance of community support and resilience in the face of setbacks. The episode also touches on the current trends in the film industry, the role...

In this episode of the Get Reelisms podcast, hosts Adam Chase Rani and Christine Chen engage with filmmaker Josh Munds to discuss their unique and humorous film 'Peeping Todd.' The conversation dives into the logistics and challenges of creating a musical about a peeping tom, featuring behind-the-scenes anecdotes involving the cast and crew, quirky budget allocations for sex toys, and funny improv...