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.
76
Choosing Your Next Project & Immediate Next Steps
There's no better feeling than completing a project you’ve been working on for, what feels like, forever. On one hand, you’re relieved but you're also anxious to figure out what to work on next. How do you decide what your new project will be, and what is the most efficient strategy for getting started on it?
39 min
77
How to Get Your Short Out In the World & Write ...
In life, we can’t please everyone. There will be people who “get us” and others who simply don’t. It’s the same when you’re a filmmaker. Your work won’t vibe with everyone who sees it, and that’s totally okay! It’s time to face your fears, give it your all, and create those projects that reveal your darkest instincts.
89 min
78
Break Up With Your Temp Score & Other Placehold...
If you’re a director who has become too attached to the temp score, you’re essentially falling in love with something you can’t have. While it may feel impossible to let go, it is possible. Let’s look at some ways you can break up with your temp score and move on.
45 min
79
How To Cut Like an Anthropologist from 'Scrambl...
Editing is more than just assembling footage. According to editor Sandra Granovsky, the whole editing process requires an interest and understanding of human nature.
35 min
80
The Pause in Pipeline Programs & What It Means ...
Is it ethical to encourage people to pursue a career in film when there are such high levels of unemployment in the industry? The Art Directors Guild certainly doesn’t think so which has led the union to pause their annual training program this year.
26 min
81
‘Prom Dates’ Writer & Director on Reviving the ...
Prom Dates, written by D.J. Mausner and directed by Kim Nguyen, is a comedy that follows two best friends who are hell-bent on having the perfect senior prom, despite the fact they broke up with their dates only 24 hours before the big night. This raunchy comedy reminds us that while romantic love may be fleeting, true friendship can survive any adversity that comes its way.
31 min
82
Film Fests: The Merits and Scams; Plus, Film Co...
What film festivals are worth submitting your projects to? Which festivals are legitimate and which ones are scams out for your money? Is it possible to find like-minded creatives to collaborate with, outside of places like L.A. and New York?
52 min
83
How To Get a Short Film Into Sundance – and Tur...
“There’s never been a better time to make shorts or watch shorts,” says Mike Plante, the senior short film programmer at Sundance Film Festival. Mike, who has been at Sundance for over 20 years, shares his thoughts on the future of shorts and what his team looks for in the selection process.
42 min
84
‘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
85
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
86
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
87
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
88
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
89
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
90
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
91
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
92
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
93
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
94
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
95
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
96
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
97
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
98
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
99
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
100
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