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

Today we briefly catch up with friend of the show Jumai! She fills us in on her experience in the final semesters of film school, and learning while in a pandemic. Matt and Oren continue on to talk development, actors, and they share some tips on hitting those early call times when in a different time zone.   Unpaid Endorsements: Oren: Writer Dan Hernandez's twitter thread about the kind of va...

Today we talk with Pastor Alvarado and Jeff Molyneaux, two of the founders of Riverside Entertainment, a production company with offices in LA and Nashville. Riverside's website:  https://www.riverside-ent.com /   Contribute to the  Just Shoot It Patreon  and help support the show. Send feedback or questions to @ justshootitpod  or  justshootitpod@gmail.com . Follow Matt on  twitter  and  inst...

Today we talk with DP Andy Strahorn who is most known for his work on 9-1-1: Lone Star, Lethal Weapon, and Good Girls Revolt. Andy gets down to the nitty gritty explaining the specifics of being a cinematographer for TV, the importance of collaborating with the director, and how he exposes for explosions.  Unpaid Endorsements: Oren: Judith and the Black Messiah on HBO Max, if you or someone you kn...

This week we are joined by accomplished producer Carolina Groppa, who is most known for  Autism in Love , Miss Virginia , and  The Female Brain . Carolina shares what it’s like working as a freelance producer, and lists the kind of qualities a director should have to get a producer's attention. Check out Carolina’s podcast, Angle on Producers, anywhere you find podcasts.  Unpaid Endorsements:...

Today on the pod we offer our advice on acting while chatting with actors from the Lee Strasberg Institute. We talk about prep, reels, and give first hand accounts of what the director is actually thinking after your audition.  Contribute to the  Just Shoot It Patreon  and help support the show. Send feedback or questions to @ justshootitpod  or  justshootitpod@gmail.com . Follow Matt on  twitter...

Today on the pod we chat with partner and executive producer Sam Penfield of 1stAveMachiene. Sam helps steer the careers of emerging directors, and she shares advice on what you could do to kickstart yours.   Check out 1stAveMachiene and all the awesome work they do at https://www.1stavemachine.com/ Unpaid Endorsements: Oren: If you like someones art online try to work with them   Matt: Instagram...

Friend of the show Roxy Shih joins us on the pod today! We chat about how to navigate directing other people’s scripts, and how to go about making changes if necessary.  Unpaid Endorsements: Oren: If you rent Airbnb or go to a place with a pool, bring a pump to inflate pool toys and a set of tools. Also, if you’re on a zoom call use names with addressing people so everyone knows they’re important...

Accomplished director and fellow podcaster Mike Pecci joins us on the pod this week. He shares his insights about becoming a working director, and answers the question of when should you move to Hollywood?  Unpaid Endorsements: Oren: Matt Ridder Twitter thread about his first open writing assignment  Matt: Episode 132 of the podcast Show Don’t Tell Mike: The book ‘Talking to Strangers’ by Malcolm...

Today we sit down with comedy director, LP, who is most known for directing sketch comedy on Funny or Die , T.V shows like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia , and her latest feature Desperados on Netflix. We chat about how she took her experience making short 3 min sketches, and turned it into a film and television directing career.  Unpaid Endorsements: Oren: Using Youtube for things like how to...

Filmmaker Daniel Scarpati sits down with us to chat about his recent book, Gofers: On The Front Lines of Film and Television, and all the valuable lessons it contains. We outline the life of a production assistant, how to start in this business with zero connections, and explain why success is about who you don’t know.  Unpaid Endorsements: Oren: The ticktok-er Mad Matthies has a Youtube channel a...

Director Fisher Stevens sits down with us today to talk about his recently released film ‘Palmer’. He gets into how he got Justin Timberlake to star in his film, what it’s like working with a minor, and his decision to make the movie he wanted for a smaller budget.  Unpaid Endorsements: Oren: A Youtube channel called Wandering DP Matt: The film ‘Sound of Metal’ Fisher: Drink green juice Contribute...

Stunt performer Stephen Koepfer can’t wait to get hit by a car (safely), but has been shoved around a bit on projects like John Wick: Chapter 3, The Blacklist, and Devs. Stephen talks with us about the technical side of stunt work, and how achievable stunts are even for the low budget films.  Unpaid Endorsements: Oren: The essential sounds tab in premiere pro now lets you license music directly fr...

Accomplished director Justin Polk wasn’t sure where to start his filmmaking career, but he worked hard, made the move to LA, and is now a working director with his own production company Invisible Collective. Justin shares his story and gives insights along the way on what worked for him, and how it could work for you.  Unpaid Endorsements: Oren: Watch the film Nomadland Matt: A directing book cal...

‘Rust Creek’ director Jen McGowan sits down with us today to talk festivals, picking the kind of director you want to be, and the art of being prepared and ready to go when an unexpected opportunity comes along.  Unpaid Endorsements: Oren: Apple original movie called Wolf Walkers, and Handstand Kitchen  Matt: If you have the means, just get the better version of whatever you’re investing in instea...

On this last day of 2020 we are rounding off the year chatting with Roxy Shih and Carlyn Hudson! We get into what this year has done for us, our hopes for 2021, and if this past year has changed the central question of this show: whether or not you should move to LA? Unpaid Endorsements: Oren: Melissa Hunter’s Twitter feed, and John Zaozirny’s Twitter feed Matt: Laura Jacqmin’s twitter thread on b...

Today we sit down with accomplished Sundance director Qasim Basir and chat about the efforts it took for him to get where he is now. We talk about all the highs, the lows, and everything in between about becoming a working director and what it takes to get there.  Unpaid Endorsements: Oren: Tip: when sending people projects, give a small description of what you are sending and why Matt: Nick Lutsk...

Being a mother doesn’t slow Zeina Durra down from filmmaking, and it certainly didn’t stop her from getting her film Luxor into Sundance. We chat with her about what it was like shooting in Egypt, adapting to the parent life while also being a Director, and Matt & Oren go into detail about what they prefer in a location.  Unpaid Endorsements: Oren: A Youtube video commentary by Hayden Hillier...

Today on the pod we’re talking with Carlyn Hudson about what to do now that you have your script written. We chat about getting your script out there and seen, the importance of look books, knowing where your movie is in the marketplace, and more!  Unpaid Endorsements: Oren: Check out Helier Smith’s Youtube channel about his theory’s on editing  Matt: Nandi Bushell on Youtube  Carlyn: Using the Ho...

Accomplished DP Carissa Dorson sits down with us today to talk about being a cinematographer with a publicist, and getting your name out there. We chat about what a social media presence can do for your career, and Carissa shares her insights on what kind of director is best to work with.  Check out Carissa’s latest film Darkness in Tenement 45: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wWDzbrYijE Unpaid E...

Today Matt and Oren sit down to talk about the art department, production designers, and the nature of collaborating.  Unpaid Endorsements: Oren: Translights, pacificstudios.net Matt: The Hitchcock film Rope, the show How To with John Wilson, and a short on Short of the Week called Emergency Action Plan   Contribute to the  Just Shoot It Patreon  and help support the show. Send feedback or questio...

Director Natasha Kermani joins us on the pod today to talk about her most recent SXSW film Lucky . This episode is a treat for all of the horror genre lovers out there as Natasha is a big part of the horror scene. We get into what it’s like directing indie features, and the importance of building a foundation of trust and loyalty with your crew.  Unpaid Endorsements: Oren: When you are making your...

Palm Springs is the movie to watch during quarantine, and Just Shoot It is the podcast to listen to so you can learn about the making of the film and the people behind it. Writer Andy Siara and director Max Barbakow share the inside scoop on what it took to get their film made, and how important it is to care about your film when no one else does.  Unpaid Endorsements: Oren: When you’re having a h...

Today we’re following up last weeks Matt and Oren episode with another Matt and Oren Episode! We talk in detail about pre-production meetings, what they are, what they cover, and our tips on navigating through them.  Unpaid Endorsements: Oren: The best chance someone has to be a successful actor/actress is to be a second generation person in the Hollywood business.  Matt: Impressions of Donald Tru...

This week on the pod Liz Manashil visits with us to help answer some listener questions about distribution. After that it’s a classic Matt and Oren episode! We catch up, Oren shares his theory on treatments, we chat about working with different crews, I told you so’s, and much more! Liz Manashil contact info: lizmanashil@gmail.com Unpaid Endorsements: Oren: shopminorthread.com to buy masks for kid...

Genre director Amanda Row started out embracing her limitations by making fifty dollar shorts, and now she directs for TV shows like The 100, Nancy Drew, and Helstrom. She shares some unique tips about directing, and what her experience is like as a woman in film.  Unpaid Endorsements: Oren: CeraVe moisture cream for dry faces  Matt: The Instagram of a producer, Nicole Kassell Amanda: If you have...