January is often perceived as a slow month in Hollywood, but in reality it’s one of the most strategic windows of the year for filmmakers. On this episode, GG Hawkins and guests Ana Liza Muravina and John Lamm unpack how the industry “wakes up” in early 2026, what that means for creative careers, and how artists can structure their time, their projects, and their expectations to thrive amid shifting economic and ecosystem forces. From understanding industry seasonality, permission structures, and macro trends in distribution to practical strategies for developing and releasing work, this conversation offers both mindset shifts and concrete guidance for filmmakers navigating careers in the current landscape.

In this episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins and guests Ana Liza Muravina and John Lamm discuss:

Breaking down the idea of a “Hollywood shutdown” and why January becomes a key moment of restart, planning, and opportunity.
How to contextually plan your writing year and align creative output with industry cycles (inspired by ideas from Final Draft’s annual planning guide).
Why building structure as an independent artist (even without external deadlines) empowers your career and creative focus.
“Permission structures” in the industry — what they are, how they shape opportunity, and how filmmakers can navigate or build them.
The importance of community, cohorts, and trusted feedback systems for career sustainability and perspective.
How macroeconomic forces, consolidation in the streaming market, and attention economy shifts are reshaping how films get financed, distributed, and found.
Practical project strategies — from refining scripts based on audience/readers to building a tailored outreach atlas for producers and executives.
The value of aligning ambition with realistic pathways — creating work you can make now while aiming for larger goals down the line.
Inspiring perspectives on why now may be an era of opportunity for scrappy independent filmmaking.

Memorable Quotes:

“Most filmmakers think January is slow, but quietly it’s one of the most strategic months of the year.”
“It’s one of those weird things … every now and then when I zoom like 10,000 feet back … it’s not necessarily indictment on your art.”
“You see it … LA is the concentration of us. It’s artists who are so good at what they do just waiting for someone to give them permission to do what they do well… And the answer generally is unless you decide to stride and do it yourself, no one gives you permission.”
“Don’t get too bogged down in the how, the strategy … let’s make movies, y’all. Let’s just do it.”

Guests:

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