The No Film School Podcast

There are those who write films and those who direct films. Today’s guest, Dean Craig was responsible for both roles in the recent film, The Estate. Craig, also known for writing Death at a Funeral, explains his process for both writing and directing. In this episode, we talk about… HBO denying his original script How having an appealing actor is a big piece of the puzzle Finding joy in the creati...

If you have a short film that you want to get out to the world, you need to consider Shortverse. This platform offers filmmaker specific features that you won’t find anywhere else. In this episode, we speak to Andrew Allen and Jason Sondhi, founders of this incredible platform for emerging filmmakers. In this episode, we talk about… Supporting short films for over 15 years with Short of the Week T...

Two of the biggest names in the industry, Tony Kushner and Steven Spielberg, collaborate on a film about Spielberg’s early life. Tony shares what it has been like to work with Spielberg over the years. The film, "The Fabelmans" is in limited release Nov 11 and everywhere Nov 23. In this episode, we talk about… Being fascinated by Steven Spielberg’s life story How filmmaking helped to protect Spiel...

Writing screenplays in our present time is challenging for a variety of reasons. There is more competition, lack of mentors, and less avid readers out there. In this episode, we cover what you should do as a screenplay writer when facing these challenges. In this episode, we talk about… Websites for screenwriting advice - The Black List and Wordplayer The cardinal sin of sending an unsolicited scr...

In today’s episode, we talk to director Parker Finn and cinematographer Charlie Sarroff about working together on the set of horror film, Smile. They share their special process of creating the film. Smile is in theaters now! In this episode, we talk about… Parker looking for the right “partner in crime” to make the film with How Parker’s short spread like wildfire Selling the pitch to Paramount P...

It’s smart to figure out the box you want to be in, since the industry is going to put you in a box anyway. Then you need to learn to appreciate your time in that box.  In this episode, we talk about… James Gunn, director of Guardians of the Galaxy, running the superhero division of DC Showing up for others and celebrating their successes with them The SONY A7R V and its unique AI feature How Arti...

Horror is best when it's balanced. It’s like baking, if one ingredient is off, it doesn't work. Teenage filmmaker, Jessica Nipperess, shares how she created the film, Devil Bean. In this episode, we talk about… Why Jessica is drawn to film festivals The Black Magic Pocket Cinema Camera and the difference it made for shooting The main challenges in directing Devil Bean  Feeling emotionally disconne...

You win some and you lose some. This is what happens when there are shifts in the industry, and AI is bringing with it a major shift. In this episode, we talk about… Shortverse - The place filmmakers, industry pros, and fans of short film can connect The complexity and inevitability of AI being used in filmmaking Feeling frustrated yet fascinated for the future of AI Why giving and receiving feedb...

Want to be a filmmaker? Then you have to be confident enough to have no confidence in yourself. This is the advice from Paul Feig, This is the advice from Paul Feig, director of The School For Good and Evil, Bridesmaids, and television shows like Freaks and Geeks, The Office, Arrested Development and Nurse Jackie. In this episode, we talk about… Applying lessons learned from his standup career and...

What do large studios, “run and gun” filmmakers, and project stakeholders all have in common? They lack humility.  In this episode, we talk about… Talent Development Programs being mandated by the DGA TikTok creators becoming show runners for NBC Universal Studios being desperate for larger audiences Getting arrested for “running and gunning” How to prepare for a “run and gun” and what to do if yo...

Josh Gordon and Will Speck are the directing duo behind the film, Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile. This duo explains the complex process of adapting a well-loved, children’s book to the big screen. In this episode, we talk about… How Josh and Will first met and what inspired them to direct projects together Dividing the directing responsibilities between them Their unique approach to producing such a comple...

Why is there such a weird fixation on the box office numbers from the first three days of film’s release? We don’t think a film’s success should be determined this way. In this episode, we talk about… How some films that did poorly the first few days at the box office, became popular afterward Putting too much pressure on the box office release How to pitch a film that is similar to another movie...

Preparation, preparation, preparation. Director Halina Reijn shares why it is important to prepare before filming and how that process (and No Film School!) helped her on Bodies Bodies Bodies. In this episode, we talk about… How Halina started as an actress before becoming a director Implementing ideas from theater into the filmmaking process Leading with a vision and accepting collaborative ideas...

Your brain is part of your body. The way you eat on set will affect how you think on set. In this episode, we talk about… How audiences will draw connections from vague story explanations Charles’ theory on a recent tech mishap on Episode 7 of House of The Dragon Changing the factory settings on your television Ideas on how to improve the superhero genre Why characters don’t always have to be goin...

Have you ever wondered how you can make your niche documentary appealing to a wider audience? Jon Weinbach, a sports documentary filmmaker, shares his techniques on how to do that very thing. In this episode, we talk about… What influenced Jon to pursue documentary filmmaking His background as a journalist for the Wall Street Journal Jon’s journey with sports docs such as 30 for 30 and The Last Da...

Your confidence is low and so is your bank account. You are lacking work opportunities and need consistent work. In this episode, we discuss the steps you need to take to overcome this common struggle. In this episode, we talk about… Using A.I. voice generators for iconic characters instead of going for a fresh take Weird casting traditions on TV shows of the past Tom Hanks’ debut novel, The Makin...

Today’s guest is Greg Mottola, director of Superbad, Adventureland, and new film Confess,Fletch. Greg discusses how to navigate gatekeepers, his experiences working with great comedic talent, and today’s challenges within the film industry. In this episode, we talk about… Greg’s experience working on various television series, such as Arrested Development Staying confident when projects do not cat...

Are sex scenes a necessary part of the plot in your projects? If so, then there are ways to be intentional when filming these parts. Everyone will feel comfortable and you will get a great scene in the process. In this episode, we talk about… The premiere of The People’s Joker at the Toronto International Film Festival Classic indie films versus the “out there” indie films Intimacy Coordinators an...

Filmmakers want to present our craft to the world, and that craft is made with a particular vision. Sometimes sticking to this vision means we will lose out on other opportunities. Comedian and filmmaker, Jerrod Carmichael, explains why he is willing to take that risk. In this episode, we talk about… Stand-up comedy and how it is an immediate art form Developing thick skin from being a stand-up co...

Just because something is different doesn’t mean it is wrong. Sometimes “breaking the rules” is precisely what makes films so great.  In this episode, we talk about… Famous French-Swiss filmmaker, Jean-Luc Godard  The unique perspective French filmmakers brought to the industry in the mid-1900s Jean-Luc Godard and his malicious compliance to “the rules” in filmmaking Being careful in the edit room...

Most filmmakers don’t have the resources to make a film turn out exactly the way we plan, but if we can apply the “Judo-style of Filmmaking,” we can still create wonderful projects. Filmmaker Petr Jakl explains how he applied this approach to the new film, Medieval, starring Ben Foster and Michael Caine. In this episode, we talk about… What made Petr decide to make the film about famous Czech mili...

For those working in the entertainment industry, it is important to learn how to: hire, manage, and fire. In this episode, we talk about… Looking to collaborate with people who can properly deliver on projects When evaluating potential hires, ask yourself these questions: Is their type of work the right work for THIS project? Is their work style the right work style for ME ? Hiring slowly and firi...

We are joined by Jessica Thompson whose feature film, The Light of the Moon, won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Film at the SXSW Film Festival in 2017. Thompson explains how she got started in the film industry and shares her approach to choosing projects to work on. In this episode, we talk about… Being influenced by her favorite filmmakers - She decided to start her career as an editor Mo...

We are joined by legendary filmmaker, Joe Dante, who directed movies like Gremlins, The Howling, and Innerspace. A true cinephile, Joe shares his experiences of working with great collaborators such as Spielberg and Corman. He also explains that while filmmaking has changed since he started, newer filmmakers still have the opportunity to create great films.  In this episode, we talk about… Working...

When thinking of making a big career swing, we have all asked ourselves the question, “What’s the right move here?” Making big swings can be tricky since there is no way to know what the outcome will be and if we are making the right decision. Charles, Todd, GG, and George give their insight into this tricky situation. In this episode, we talk about… Changes happening at Warner Bros and how their...