The MAKE IT Podcast

This episode is brought to you by Factor . No prep, no cooking. Just dietitian-approved, chef-prepared meals delivered to your door and ready to eat in 2 minutes. Go to https://factormeals.com/makeit50off and use the code MAKEIT50OFF to get 50% off your first Factor box PLUS free breakfast for 1 year. This episode is brought to you by Anthropic. Claude is the AI for minds that don’t stop at good e...

WHAT IS FILM BRIEF? Blending journalism with artistry,  Film Brief  transforms film analysis into an engaging and informative listening experience. The goal is to reveal what makes each movie or series resonate—on screen and behind the scenes. For listeners, it’s not just a review; it’s an exploration of the art of filmmaking. BRIEF: In this brief, host Nick explores Mary Bronstein's psycholog...

Hello, Hello! In this episode, Alex Ivey and Allison Inverness unpack a masterclass interview with independent filmmaker Derek Estlin Purvis, exploring the hidden mechanics of film financing and the entrepreneurial strategies behind successful indie filmmaking. They dive deep into Derek's three-pillar funding framework using equity, debt, and soft money, while examining his "skyscraper app...

Learn more about Jefferson White   here : Hello, Hello! Jefferson White   discusses his evolving definition of success in the entertainment industry, emphasizing the importance of having control over creative choices and working with people you care about. He reflects on how his goals have changed from wanting to get on a show like Yellowstone to now prioritizing creative fulfillment and collabora...

Learn more about Jefferson White   here : Hello, Hello! Jefferson White  discusses his top three films, including The Matrix Reloaded, In the Mood for Love, and three recent foreign language films that impressed him. The conversation covers his commitment to film education, particularly international cinema, and his honest admission about pretending to have seen films he hasn't watched. White...

Learn more about Jefferson White   here : Hello, Hello! Jefferson joins Producer Papa Bear for our "Things We Should Know" segment. The discussion reveals surprising facts about Academy Award winners from Iowa, including the remarkable achievement of Cloris Leachman as the only Iowa-born actor to win a BAFTA, Oscar, Golden Globe, and Emmy. The conversation features guest Jefferson White an...

Learn more about Jefferson White   here : Hello, Hello! Jefferson White joins us to discuss the art of acting, exploring how empathy plays a crucial role in bringing both villains and heroes to life on screen. We delve into audience poll results about whether movie villains deserve empathy, with 94% of listeners saying yes, and examine what makes a great actor through the lens of trying new approa...

Learn more about Jefferson White   here : Hello, Hello! Yellowstone star Jefferson White joins us for an in-depth Filmmaker Q&A about the creative process, independent filmmaking, and building a sustainable career in entertainment. White discusses his production company, Means of Productions, the philosophy behind choosing independent projects over big-budget work, and how constraints often le...

Learn more about Jefferson White here : Hello, Hello! In this Story Is King, Jefferson White joins the Make It Podcast to discuss his latest film, "Drink and Be Merry," a Christmas movie shot for just $60,000 in a New York dive bar. White shares insights into micro-budget filmmaking, his collaboration with director Adam Volderic, and the creative choices that gave the film its nostalgic, w...

This episode is brought to you by Anthropic. Claude is the AI for minds that don’t stop at good enough—it's the collaborator that actually understands your entire workflow and thinks WITH you, not for you. Sign up for Claude today and get 50% off your first three months of Claude Pro when you use our link – www.claude.ai/makeit This episode is brought to you by Shopify . Sign up for your one-d...

WHAT IS FILM BRIEF? Blending journalism with artistry,  Film Brief  transforms film analysis into an engaging and informative listening experience. The goal is to reveal what makes each movie or series resonate—on screen and behind the scenes. For listeners, it’s not just a review; it’s an exploration of the art of filmmaking. BRIEF: In this episode, Nick dives deep into "Iron Lung," the m...

Hello, Hello! In this episode, we dive deep into filmmaker Kali Bailey's unconventional path to the director's chair, exploring what she calls the "Swiss Army Knife approach" - mastering every job on set before directing. The conversation reveals both the advantages and dangerous pitfalls of being too competent at jobs you don't actually want, including the psychological challe...

Hello, Hello! In this segment, we wrap up our conversation with filmmaker Yelena Popovic, writer-director of the upcoming film "Moses: The Black Movie." The discussion concludes with a thoughtful exploration of what it means to "make it" in the film industry and life in general. Yelena shares her perspective on success, defining it as finding peace and contentment while continuing...

Hello, Hello! In this Clear the Set, filmmaker Yelena Popovic joins us for our "Clear the Set" rapid-fire Q&A segment, sharing her top three films, including "Empty" by Sydney Lumet, "The Asphalt Jungle" by John Huston, and "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." She discusses films she's embarrassed not to have seen, movies everyone loves that she hates, and...

Hello, Hello! In this Filmmaker Q&A, filmmaker Yelena Popovic discusses her latest film "Moses the Black," which transforms the ancient story of a 4th-century Egyptian saint into a modern-day Chicago gangster narrative. She shares her journey of working closely with West Side Chicago community members, including former gang leaders, to create an authentic portrayal of urban transformat...

Hello, Hello! In this Audience Polls, we talk about faith-based films, revealing surprising results about how audiences perceive movies differently when protagonists versus antagonists have faith-based motivations. Filmmaker Yelena Popovic discusses the challenges of creating authentic faith-based cinema and shares insights from her film about St. Moses the Black. The conversation explores the dif...

Hello, Hello! In this Story Is King segment, filmmaker Yelena Popovic shares her incredible journey from war-torn Yugoslavia to Hollywood, discussing her transition from fashion modeling to filmmaking and the miraculous events surrounding her hit film "Man of God." She opens up about overcoming 18 years of immigration struggles, single motherhood, and the dark moments that nearly ended her...

This episode is brought to you by Factor . No prep, no cooking. Just dietitian-approved, chef-prepared meals delivered to your door and ready to eat in 2 minutes. Go to https://factormeals.com/makeit50off and use the code MAKEIT50OFF to get 50% off your first Factor box PLUS free breakfast for 1 year. This episode is brought to you by The Film Tech Program at Columbia State Community College . ENR...

WHAT IS FILM BRIEF? Blending journalism with artistry,  Film Brief  transforms film analysis into an engaging and informative listening experience. The goal is to reveal what makes each movie or series resonate—on screen and behind the scenes. For listeners, it’s not just a review; it’s an exploration of the art of filmmaking. BRIEF: In this episode, host Nicholas Buggs explores Ryan Coogler's...

Hello, Hello! In this episode, Alex Ivey and Allison Inverness dive deep into the unconventional career journey of Tim Duggan , a filmmaker, photographer, and entrepreneur who went from failing flight school to becoming a successful creative entrepreneur. They explore his transition from technical perfection to meaningful artistic inquiry, his revolutionary "farmer mentality" approach to f...

Hello, Hello! In this episode, we conclude our conversation with filmmaker Emma Parks, who becomes the first guest of 2026 to answer their signature question about what it means to "make it." Emma defines making it as being in a position to create the films you want to make and give performances that tell the stories you want to share with the world, emphasizing that while it takes time an...

Hello, Hello! In this episode, Emma Parks joins us to "Clear the Set" where she shares her top three films including Almost Famous, Good Will Hunting, and The Way Way Back. The conversation reveals her embarrassing admission of never having seen The Godfather despite watching an entire TV series about its making. Emma also discusses her complicated relationship with Coraline, which terrifi...

Hello, Hello! In this episode,we dive into our popular "Things We Should Know" segment with Producer Papa Bear at the helm. The conversation centers around a fascinating trivia question about the only person in history to win both an Olympic gold medal and an Oscar, which leads to an engaging discussion about sports and entertainment achievements. Guest Emma Parks shares her impressive bac...

Hello, Hello! In this episode, filmmaker and actress Emma Parks join us for an engaging Filmmaker Q&A session. The conversation explores Emma's experiences making her coming-of-age dramedy short film "Dirty Towel," which tackles themes of sexual shame and empowerment while examining the universal struggle of owning personal decisions against parental expectations. Emma shares insig...

Hello, Hello! In this episode, we dive into Audience Poll results about preferred film release formats, revealing that 62% of viewers favor streaming exclusives over theatrical releases. The conversation explores why streaming has become the dominant preference, examining factors like rising theater costs, mobile viewing habits, and accessibility issues. The discussion also covers potential soluti...