The No Film School Podcast

A podcast about how to build a career in filmmaking. No Film School shares the latest opportunities and trends for anyone working in film and TV. We break news on cameras, lighting, and apps. We interview leaders in screenwriting, directing, cinematography, editing, and producing. And we answer your questions! We are dedicated to sharing knowledge with filmmakers around the globe, “no film school” required.

TV & Film
51
‘Shōgun’ DPs on Lenses, Looks & How ‘The Descen...
Long-time friends and colleagues, Christopher Ross and Sam McCurdy, are two of the cinematographers of FX’s mini-series, Shōgun. Filming this series was an incredible experience full of lessons in Japanese culture, lenses, and shooting with cranes.
60 min
52
Writing the Unfilmable & Managing Your Career W...
Writing a screenplay is like following a cookie recipe, it’s closer to magic than science. You don’t have to follow screenwriting “rules” to create an amazing story. There’s something else you don’t have to do in your career. When serious problems arise in your personal life, you don’t have to keep working at your typical pace. It’s okay to ask for help and decrease your output.
34 min
53
How ‘Challengers’ Screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes...
Justin Kuritzkes is the screenwriter for the film, Challengers, starring Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor. The story revolves around tennis pros who are caught in a love triangle. It’s not just about the game of tennis, but about the game of love and power. Let’s dive into Justin’s process of writing such a damn good movie!
26 min
54
Packaging and the Death of Naked Specs
The days of selling naked specs are over. It’s now the filmmaker's job to understand how to package their projects. While many were opposed to packaging in the past, there are effective ways to approach the process that will leave you feeling empowered.
29 min
55
Live from NAB 2024: Blackmagic's CEO on the URS...
We had the chance to speak to Grant Petty of Blackmagic Design at this year’s NAB conference. It was as much of a conversation about technology and innovation as it was a conversation about human nature.
56 min
56
Editing Tyler Perry's Life Story with Filmmaker...
Erick Sasso is a multi-hyphenate creative and the editor of the film, Maxine's Baby: The Tyler Perry Story, which documents the life of Tyler Perry. Erick compares the making of documentaries to the making of a meal. You need to use the right ingredients…not too much, not too little. And everyone at the table has to enjoy it.
66 min
57
Why The 'Blood for Dust' Director & Producer Do...
Rod Blackhurst and Noah Lang are the dynamic duo behind the film Blood for Dust, starring Kit Harington, Scooty McNairy, and Josh Lucas. These filmmakers share why leading with honesty, openness, and enthusiasm is the key to building strong relationships and creating successful films. You don’t have to be cutthroat in this industry in order to achieve your filmmaking dreams.
58 min
58
These No Film School Listeners Won Slamdance an...
Nina Ognjanovic is the director of the film, Where the Road Leads, which won Best Narrative Feature at Slamdance 2023. Nina and her passionate team prove you can successfully market a foreign, indie film on a limited budget and still win at major festivals in the US and worldwide.
36 min
59
Survive Until 2025
Were you hoping work would pick back up after last year’s strikes? Unfortunately, work is epically slow, and 2024 is a rough year for the film industry. But just because Hollywood is slowing down, doesn’t mean you have to.
44 min
60
How to Safely Light Chris Hemsworth on Fire
Sam Hargrave is an award winning stuntman and stunt coordinator, second unit director for films like Suicide Squad and Avengers:Endgame, and director of the film Extraction. His second feature film, Extraction 2, is available on Netflix, June 16.
43 min
61
How Heat Shapes Your Career & the Biz Feat Osca...
Heat is important to your film career. It means that you and your work are gaining attention and recognition, which can lead to more opportunities in the future. So how can you generate and navigate heat at an industry level? What contributes to “positive heat” or “negative heat?”
83 min
62
Is Achieving the American Dream Possible Throug...
How do you build a career as a cinematographer when the odds are against you? How do you create opportunities for yourself, when dealing with rejection, financial barriers, and prejudice? Is it possible to pursue your dream without conforming and becoming someone you are not?
85 min
63
Troubleshooting Tech for Dummies & Bombing an I...
The small decisions that you make at the beginning of your project, can cause headaches later on. If you want to avoid tech issues in post, then you need to set up your project correctly from the start. Speaking of doing things right from the start, there is a right way and a wrong way to approach your interviews. How should you prepare for your next interview to make sure it doesn’t bomb?
38 min
64
Let’s Talk About Sex (On Screen) With a Team of...
Should you hire an intimacy coordinator for your next project? What exactly does an intimacy coordinator do? Does having this person on set ruin spontaneity? How can having more structure around intimate scenes, actually encourage freedom and creativity during the storytelling process?
78 min
65
To Rent or Buy Gear? Plus, Movies That Made Us ...
You are still a legitimate filmmaker even if you don’t own any gear. Most filmmakers actually don’t own the gear they use and for good reason. And speaking of gear, what movies geared you toward the path of filmmaking?
42 min
66
Pete Ohs Rethinks How We Make Movies
Who says making a movie requires expensive equipment, a large crew, and a script? Maybe creating a film can be a creative experiment between a couple of friends who are excited about the uncertainty of the journey that awaits.
51 min
67
How Your First Ten Pages — Or AI? — Will Determ...
Getting your script into the hands of the right people is extremely difficult. What is a desperate screenwriter to do if they seek feedback on their screenplay? Are script coverage services helpful or just another cog profiting from an emerging filmmaker’s hope?
49 min
68
‘Damsel’ Director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo Sets ...
If you want to succeed with fantasy and make it a transformative experience, you have to create real characters. To convey realness, you have to go beyond the “good versus evil” narrative of traditional fantasy movies. You have to create duality.
32 min
69
How We Manage Our Careers — From Annual Goals t...
Regardless if you are new to filmmaking or you have years of experience, you must be strategic about managing your career in film. This includes setting goals, constantly building your portfolio, and knowing how to financially support yourself between paid projects.
55 min
70
How Broadcast Dramas Work, With ‘Quantum Leap’ ...
What does it look like to advocate for yourself as a creator? Well, it starts with understanding your value and knowing where you can serve. Then, you have to develop the courage to articulate and offer your expertise. This is exactly what Shakina did to land the role of executive story editor on the NBC series, Quantum Leap.
43 min
71
Dissecting Emerging AI and Why Your Human Voice...
With the rise of AI, will Hollywood begin to neuter your voice? While AI isn’t creating anything original, the immediate convenience of this tool is already impacting our industry. Artificial intelligence is being applied to creative arts, so filmmakers need to understand how it can affect their careers.
45 min
72
Career-Sustaining Advice for a Consolidating Fi...
If you are at square one in your filmmaking journey, you are probably confused about where to start. You’re not sure how you are going to pay the bills, let alone finance your projects. You’re also worried about the state of the industry and wondering if you have a shot at success. Our guest, Ana Liza Muravina, believes that if you’re serious about filmmaking, “it’s your responsibility to understand what kind of business you’re getting into.”
59 min
73
How To Ensure People Can Watch Your Movie (Hope...
There’s a very important lesson can we learn from films like 28 Days Later, which is not available in physical format or on streamer. It’s hard to believe a film starring award-winning talent like Cillian Murphy, who is nominated for an Oscar this year, is not commercially available to audiences. Let’s find out how you can make sure your movie doesn’t succumb to the same fate.
52 min
74
How First-Time Feature Director Katie Burrell S...
Weak Layers is Katie Burrell’s feature film, which she not only directed but co-wrote and acted in. The film invites us to truly understand ski culture, unlike many unrealistic ski movies of the past. With this film, Katie proves that a novice director can stay true to their vision while also leading with transparency, humility, and positivity along the way.
45 min
75
Are Super Bowl Ads Creative Anymore? Plus, a Ne...
If you’re anything like us, we only watch the Super Bowl for the awesome commercials, but sadly this year’s ads leave much to be desired. While we are disappointed by the Super Bowl commercials, we are happily surprised by two major announcements in the filmmaking space. One announcement comes from The Academy Awards, and the other announcement comes from Kodak.
38 min