Just Shoot It: A Podcast about Filmmaking, Screenwriting and Directing

Matt and Oren engage in a lively chat about how to create passion projects that advance your career and add to your reel. Do you know the 4 types of projects? What about the how to make them stand out? And the guys dive into the balance between projects that get you recognition and those that build your craftsmanship. As well as some of the specifics of what makes a good spec commercial. And who c...

Oren's July went from being overbooked and bidding wars for his time, to nothing at all coming to fruition. And now he has free time on his hands... too much free time. So Matt and Oren chat about the down times. Those time when it's easy to spiral into always wondering if you'll ever work again. You know the feeling. And the guys talk about how to fight the sense of not being productive, when you...

With the year in swing and clients shooting, Matt and Oren talk about challenges they’re experiencing on set and some interesting solutions to some common problems to all commercial directors. Matt kicks it off talking about the unique kind of loneliness you feel as the director on set. All leaders experience it, but in the film and commercial world there are particular challenges that stem from w...

Robert Boocheck talks about the three ways commercial directors land jobs. But first Oren and Matt chat about California's Billionaire tax, its impact on the film industry, and why it is and isn't a great solution. Then Oren and Matt dive deep and quiz Robert on making relationships in the industry and what's the best way to break into the commercial industry as a film director. Which take Robert...

Fallon Anderson, Creative Director at Tailfin agency https://tailfin.com/ talks about making a Super Bowl commercial and her method for elevating creative. And Matt and Oren dive deep into her process, what she values, and how she chooses commercial directors to hire. And that spurs Fallon to disclose how hard the agency fights for the vision of the director and how she’s learned to prioritize whi...

Adam Carter Rehmeier talks about his latest film, "Carolina Caroline" https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33365126/ , his journey as a dedicated crew member and the moves he made to create 3 features: his new release , "Snack Shack", and “Dinner and a Movie”. And Matt and Oren get him to open up about getting past the gatekeepers and nay-sayers who like to say we can’t let you do that , because “you have...

Matthew Shear IG: @matthew_shear takes us on the journey to cast Amanda Peet, Alessandro Nivola, and Judd Hirsch in his directorial debut. In the midst of a long and successful career as an actor, should you ever write your own film? Does it even make sense to follow your agent's advice about making more content? Matthew just wrapped as series reg, and Matt and Oren are curious about how and why h...

Greg Kort from Doner Advertising, Detroit https://www.doner.com/talks about the job of an agency producer and how it differs from a line producer, or any other kind of producer. And Matt and Oren get him to share what it means to be the connective tissue between multiple people -- whether brands, agency, or outside creatives -- and how being a creative producer can be more about balancing personal...

As a Creative Director at Kimmelot Labs, Joe Saroufim has worked with Janusz Kaminski and Matt Oren chat with him about the role of a Creative Director in maintaining the voice of the brand while pushing creative boundaries. Joe talks about his background at film school and how working at an agency taught him to alter his writing to be more modular. Today, he thinks more about how the right combin...

Matt and Oren chat with Creative Director JK Lyons about how you can stand out as a director. And they dive deep into what is in your reel, book, or portfolio. Does it make a statement about your personality? Can somebody tell this is truly you? And they talk about actions you can take so that you're part of the CD's team, and not just a hire. Because at the end of the day, that is what makes you...

Matt and Oren talk about what they love to see from actors. How many takes should you do? What if you drop a line in an audition? And what’s the best way to ask questions? It’s a great episode on the little things actors have done and gotten booked. As well as the mistakes actors have made that worked against them. It’s funny, because Matt and Oren agree on a lot. But while some things are cringe...

Where do you fit in, as a director? That’s what Matt and Oren are talking about on this episode of Just Shoot It! What does that mean? Think of this: what makes you just the right director for a certain script, or a certain commercial spot? Is it your ability to write quirky quick-paced dialogue and convince people to fund it? Or is it your unique way of shooting walk and talks that makes it easy...

Chandler Levack https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5576953 made 3 feature films. One with a $250,000 budget, and the last with a $30 million budget for Netflix. How did that happen? Matt and Oren dive into how Chandler met Adam Sandler. And the answer is, she made herself the only director for the job. Check out this amazing story from a Canadian filmmaker! Help Matts' film: https://wefunder.com/badfeeli...

Annemarie Jacir has an amazing career that span directing for Hulu’s “Ramy” with comic Ramy Youssef, as well as jurying for Telluride, Cannes, and Sundance. And she chats with Oren and Matt about bringing her latest film “Palestine 36” to life. Jeremy Irons stars in this Oscar-submitted film, Annemarie’s fourth, that played at TIFF and AFI. Set in Palestine in 1936, this historical fiction weaves...

You know them as BriTANick https://www.britanick.com/ and their latest feature, “Pizza Movie” debuts on Hulu on April 3! Now Brian McElhaney and Nick Kocher join Matt and Oren and reveal how they keep new ideas flowing. These guys have written for SNL and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” and they were the voice of Comedy Central. But they learned a lot shooting this feature, their first departu...

Travis Wood & Alex Mallis are living the director’s dream! Their feature film "The Travel Companion" https://thetravelcompanionfilm.com/ premiered at Tribeca, they have distribution through Oscilloscope, and they’re touring theaters across the country. And now they're on to the next big thing, and this time the goal is to make one dollar on their next film. And that’s how they start chatting w...

Aaron Pagniano https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3142582/ talks about their new micro-budget feature film "It Needs Eyes" and they share secrets to overcoming hurdles when you don’t have a ton of money to play with. Matt and Oren get a lot of info, like how much money you really net when you raise, say $60,000 on Kickstarter. As well as the secret to affording 35 mm film stock and a Panavision when your...

As directors, we live a very atypical work life. And Carlyn joins Oren and Matt to clear the air about some frustrations they all share about producers and crew who just aren’t meeting the grade. In any given year, a working director will interview for 150 commercial opportunities and land 20 or so. So while the rest of the world applies for 150 jobs and gets scores of interviews, and lands a few...

Matt and Oren spend some time figuring out how to be a normal human being in a world where there’s so much that isn’t normal anymore. We’re way past the new normal!! Like, can you really pitch a potential client on how much you love their toilet paper while your family can’t travel and worry about the next round of incoming missiles? OK, as a commercial director or a filmmaker in general, you know...

Sarah May Bates https://www.sarahmaybates.com / is an AI director, and she’s been getting lots of work! And Matt and Oren dive deep into how she makes that happen. She’s joined by actor Susan Song. Sarah has a clear line for AI usage. And it comes down to what are you in this for? Do you love the organic aspect of filmmaking and discovery, where what you plan isn’t always what you get? Like, in a...

Natasha Kermani talks about casting Sophie Turner in her latest film “The Dreadful” https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30842022 / and it’s amazing how she connected with Sophie and demonstrated why this project was a great fit for her trajectory as an actor. But when Matt and Oren dig into the details of the one thing Natasha said in her letter that sealed the deal, they get a big surprise. This is a gr...

Chuck Kinnane joins directly from Little Compton, Rhode Island. And he comes out straight on sharing the credit and pay from their latest feature, “Solo Mio”, starring Kevin James. The Kinnane brothers have been living the dream as filmmakers. And they’re proof that years of work with YouTube videos, closed caption documentaries, and just making shorts, writing scripts and pitching ideas, can and...

Producer Jonathan Burns https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanaburns talks about his methods for selecting the vibe that he presents to brands and agencies. And the different considerations that drive his every choice from kraft, to restaurants, crew decisions, and more. Matt and Oren have worked with Jonathan on multiple occasions. And they talk about what separates a production manager who’s gradu...

How important is Sundance to your career as a commercial director? Matt and Oren talk about their experiences in Park City before the festival wraps up its last year in Utah.      With Matt working to raise money for his latest film, “Bad Feeling”, there’s a lively discussion about whether making narrative films can advance your career as a commercial director. And the answer i...

When Sergio Cilli https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1826186/ made his first AI film, it really didn’t get noticed. And neither did many others he made. Sure they were good. But what got noticed more was the one video he made, which showed why AI isn’t quite and why it’s not yet the monster filmmakers fear. Sergio joins Kristyna Archer https://www.archer.vision/ to talk about making AI films. What works,...