The MAKE IT Podcast

Hello, Indie Film Creatives!  In this episode, we have a conversation with Documentary Director and Producer Sarah Klein. We talk about her partnership at Redglass Pictures, why knowing your audience is essential for making the best documentary films, why she loves short-form docs, her working friendship with Ken Burns, why constantly creating meaningless content for social media is a bad idea, in...

Hello, Indie Film Creatives! In this edition of Industry Insights, Nick outlines the importance of being brilliant in doing the basic things well - a sentiment shared with us by filmmaker Amanda Paige Young. Enjoy! Listen+Subscribe+Rate = Love Questions or Comments? Reach out to us at contact@bonsai.film or on social and the web at https://linktr.ee/BonsaiCreative Love Indie Film? Love the MAKE IT...

Hello, Indie Film Creatives! In this special in-depth episode, writer Jason McConnell and Executive Producer Chris Barkley take an essential deep dive into investing in Independent Film. You'll learn everything you need to know about what it takes to have success as an Executive Producer, as well as some of the pitfalls to avoid. Enjoy! Listen+Subscribe+Rate = Love Questions or Comments? Reach...

Hello, Indie Film Creatives!  In this edition of Mistakes In The Making, we hear from writer and former studio executive, Shannan E. Johnson. She talks about the mistake of lack of focus. This episode is perfect for those multi-hyphenate creatives that are so broadly talented that they have difficulty choosing which creative path to pursue. Enjoy! Listen+Subscribe+Rate = Love Questions or Comments...

Hello, Indie Film Creatives!  In this episode, we have a conversation with Ann Arbor Film Festival Executive Director Leslie Raymond. We talk about what it takes to push the film medium beyond the status quo, balancing a two artist relationship, the 60th anniversary of the Ann Arbor Film Festival (coming in March), working past the unsexy parts of the film business to reach your goals and her expe...

Hello, Indie Film Creatives! In this edition of Industry Insights, Nick borrows from the following wisdom, "Learn to ignore what people say, because what they say ultimately doesn't matter; it's what they do. If you want to collaborate with someone, watch their work first," provided by inaugural podcast guest, Kristopher Wente . Enjoy!  Listen+Subscribe+Rate = Love Questions or Com...

Hello, Indie Film Creatives! This is an Indie Talk week, and in this edition, we talk about men with unusual names, how 'Encanto' has remained in our collective consciousness, why Indie Filmmakers need to back Kayne West, the Lin-Manuel Miranda and Immortal Technique dichotomy, the greatest of 'Tick Tick Boom,' Andrew Garfield, 'CODA,' 'TITANE,' and 'C'mon,...

Hello, Indie Film Creatives!  In this edition of Mistakes In The Making, Actor JesseJames Locorriere talks about the lesson of finding out that he wasn't special and that acting is a great job, but not a great identity. Enjoy! JesseJames’ Facebook Listen+Subscribe+Rate = Love Questions or Comments? Reach out to us at contact@bonsai.film or on social and the web at https://linktr.ee/BonsaiCreat...

Hello, Indie Film Creatives!  In this episode, we have a conversation with filmmaker, lawyer, and Executive Director of the Wheaton Film Festival, Brian Frankel. We talk about the Wheaton Film Festival, his experience growing up in a hotel, the impact of Cuban Immigrants on South Beach, how he balances being a filmmaker and lawyer, protecting filmmakers Intellectual Property, the importance of div...

Hello, Indie Film Creatives!  In this edition of Industry Insights, Nick shares the wisdom of Director and Writer Robert Broadhurst and expounds upon Robert's quote, “It’s really hard to make art, to begin with, it’s even harder if you can’t pay your bills doing it." Enjoy! Listen+Subscribe+Rate = Love Questions or Comments? Reach out to us at contact@bonsai.film or on social and the web a...

Hello, Indie Film Creatives! In this edition of Indie Talk, Chris and Nick talk about slow sales activity at this year's Sundance Film Festival and what might help, Jennifer Lopez's new Rom-Com 'Marry Me' and the potential impact on the genre, and Chris makes an amendment to one of his long-time beliefs. Enjoy! Listen+Subscribe+Rate = Love Questions or Comments? Reach out to us at...

Hello Indie Film Creatives! In this episode of 'Mistakes In The Making,' we hear from comedian, actor, and writer Michelle McGregor. She talks about what she learned from the mistakes she made attending a graduate school acting program at Yale. Enjoy! Listen+Subscribe+Rate = Love Questions or Comments? Reach out to us at contact@bonsai.film or on social and the web at https://linktr.ee/Bon...

Hello, Indie Film Creatives! In this episode, we have a conversation with Director/Writer Nick Frangione. We talk about his fantastic feature 'Buck Run,' his work on a forthcoming musical and why he's making it, how mourning his beloved mother and healing wounds with his father shapes his filmmaking and his top tactics on getting the best performances out of his actors on set. Enjoy! L...

Hello, Indie Film Creatives! In this episode of ‘Mistakes In The Making,’ we hear from Director and Writer Terry Gingles. He breaks down the mistakes of rushing in instead of waiting for the opportunity you truly wanted and how to manage your animation project so that you don’t lose control of the creativity and direction. Enjoy! Listen+Subscribe+Rate = Love Questions or Comments? Reach out to us...

Hello, Indie Film Creatives! In this episode, we talk about creative lying versus fraudulent lying. When is selling or pitching using Puffery inappropriate and when is it a necessary tool for Indie filmmaking, funding, and distribution? We talk about it all in this Indie Talk. Enjoy!     Listen+Subscribe+Rate = Love Questions or Comments? Reach out to us at contact@bonsai.film or on social and the...

Hello, Indie Film Creatives!  In this episode, we hear from Writer and Director Drew Maynard as he talks about the mistakes of taking on the wrong projects, how to know it when it happens, and how to fix it. Enjoy! Listen+Subscribe+Rate = Love ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Questions or Comments? Reach out to us at contact@bonsai.film or on social and the web at https://linktr.ee/BonsaiCreative Love Indie Film? Love t...

Hello, Indie Film Creatives! In this episode, we have a conversation with the Atlanta Film Society and Atlanta Film Festival Programming Director Brighid Wheeler. We talk about life as a gay creative, fighting negativity and distraction, how to overcome Imposter Syndrome, her work at the Atlanta Film Society and Film Festival, and her advice to LGBTQ filmmakers. Enjoy! Listen+Subscribe+Rate = Love...

Hello, Indie Film Creatives! This is the introductory episode of our podcast series, 'Mistakes In The Making'. In this volume, Motke Dapp talks about the biggest mistake in his career so far, how you can avoid it, what he learned from it, and how it made him a better creative today. Enjoy! Do you want to contribute your story to Mistakes In The Making? Email us at contact@bonsai.film or me...

Hello, Indie Film Creatives! In this episode, we bring on guest hosts Director Robert Broadhurst, Producer, and Writer Tony Scott, and Director and Animator Valerie Barnhart to review the best in Indie Film and the MAKE IT Podcast in 2021. And (finally), you can listen AND watch the conversation on YouTube. Enjoy! Listen+Subscribe+Rate = Love Questions or Comments? Reach out to us at contact@bonsa...

Hello, Indie Film Creatives! In this episode, Chris and Nick get back together for their first Indie Talk of 2022! They talk about what they believe filmmakers genuinely aspire to, how they can get it, and where the dangers are in pursuing the wrong things. Enjoy! Listen+Subscribe+Rate = Love Questions or Comments? Reach out to us at contact@bonsai.film or on social and the web at https://linktr.e...

Hello, Indie Film Creatives!  In this episode, we have a conversation with Virginia Film Office Director Andy Edmunds. We talk about his philosophy on working for free, how film offices work for Filmmakers, the role of politics in landing film projects, the politics of film subsidies, working with Harrison Ford, and his work on the films 'War of the Worlds', 'Mission Impossible 3',...

Hello, Indie Film Creatives! In this episode, we have a conversation with Producer and Showrunner Sarah Kunin. We talk about the mistake that made her a better Producer, her work with 'Good Morning America' host Michael Strahan, how she pitched her show 'Making Modern w/ Brooke & Brice,' the "Docu-follow" format, her work with the Magnolia Network, her favorite hacks to...

Hello, Indie Film Creatives!  In this episode, we have a conversation with Actor, Musician, and Writer Travis Nicholson. We talk about growing up around fame, what all the top artists he grew up around have in common, his relationship with the late Justin Townes Earle, his work with the Coen Brothers, the intimate, inside details of his show 'Still The King,' the power of meditation, and s...

Hello, Indie Film Creators! In this episode, we talk about our go-to Holiday movies, explain why Indie Filmmakers tend to make Horror and Holiday movies first, and Mr. Beast's success in making his 'Squid Game' parody, and what people are missing about it. Enjoy! Listen+Subscribe+Rate = Love Questions or Comments? Reach out to us at contact@bonsai.film or on social and the web at https...

Hello, Indie Film Creators! In this episode, we have a conversation with Whistleblower, Author and Film Festival Founder Michael McCray. We talk about the process of becoming a Whistleblowing Filmmaker, The Clinton Administration, The ACORN 8, Daniel Ellsberg, Ralph Nader, Modern Journalism, Frank Serpico, Chinese Twitter Bots, Jamal Khashoggi. Facebook, Edward Snowden, and much more. Enjoy!   Lis...