The No Film School Podcast

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. In today’s episode, No Film School’s Jason Hellerman speaks with acquisition executive and script consultant, Evan Littman, to discuss: Why we should be concerned about text-to-video AI tools like Sora Why large studios have a better chance of going against generative AI models AI-generated screenplays and copyright laws Using AI to read and give feedback on scripts Examples of how unreliable AI can be Developing your voice as a screenwriter What newer writers need to understand about breaking into the industry Why 8/10 on a script isn’t good enough  Memorable Quotes “This is something a lot of people thought was coming, but it arrived faster than we anticipated.” [2:49] “A.I. is not making anything. It’s just recombining and generating an output based on what it already has.” [7:38] “A.I. at this point in time, can’t really generate anything good. What it makes is regurgitated slop.” [11:11] “You just really need one ‘yes’ to get a movie made. It doesn’t matter if you have a hundred ‘I like its.’ You really need one ‘I love it.’” [42:41] Mentioned:Get Made ConsultingGG's surveyFind No Film School everywhere:On the Webhttps://nofilmschool.com/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschoolTwitter https://twitter.com/nofilmschoolYouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschoolInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/nofilmschoolSend us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.”In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins speaks with filmmaker Ana Liza Muravina to discuss: How the industry has transformed The decline of tv and film consumption What a period of consolidation means for filmmakers The power of attaching certain elements to your project Ensuring the project you are pitching is financially viable  Foreign Sales - what are they and how are they impacted by streaming services Becoming clear on the project you are making Finding patrons and supporters in your local area The importance of casting valuable actors Figuring out what you want out of your career Having a collaboration agreement and what it should look like Memorable Quotes “Streaming tv is going to look a lot like how cable used to look. It’s going to be expensive.” [9:24] “In our industry and in our society, success is tied to money.” [11:41] Money is not all concentrated in Los Angeles and New York. Money is wherever there are people who have made money.” [26:45] “Please make the thing that’s most interesting to you otherwise it’s not going to be interesting and it’s not going to sell.” [28:35] Mentioned:Ana Liza MuravinaFind No Film School everywhere:On the Webhttps://nofilmschool.com/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschoolTwitter https://twitter.com/nofilmschoolYouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschoolInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/nofilmschoolSend us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. In today’s episode, No Film School’s Charles Haine, GG Hawkins, and Jason Hellerman discuss: Staying conscious about the ways our contracts are written Thinking about where projects will be in 100 years Automating residual systems - is it a good idea? Feeling disturbed and disappointed by the lack of physical media available Pros and cons of text-to-video tools like Sora AI How AI can be a useful tool if it is subordinate to creatives Jaywalking in front of self-driving vehicles  What is causing the current short story phenomenon Why you should be reading screenplays every week Memorable Quotes Thinking about your digital legacy is a really interesting thing to try to negotiate and navigate.” [9:15] “Don’t get too attached to the movie you made because it might just completely go away.” [12:30] “Your scripts should be entertaining. Your goal is to create a great read.” [43:48] “I’m against building statues of anybody that’s alive. It’s expensive to take down a statue.” [48:24] Mentioned:OpenAI’s Insanely Powerful Text-to-Video Model ‘Sora’ is Here What are the Ramifications of the New 'Sora' OpenAI App on Hollywood?Here’s How Sora’s AI Video Could Actually be Good for FilmmakersWhy Are Short Stories Hot In Hollywood Right Now? Rest of World articleFind No Film School everywhere:On the Webhttps://nofilmschool.com/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschoolTwitter https://twitter.com/nofilmschoolYouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschoolInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/nofilmschoolSend us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins, speaks with Katie Burrell to discuss: Feeling excited about theatrical releases in ski towns Creating such a niche film What Katie can’t stand about other ski movies The unique, diverse cast and what they brought to the film Directing in extreme climates Being honest about her lack of experience How she kept up morale on set Why they didn’t do any playback How they created an organic party vibe on set Memorable Quotes “I was militant about making sure that it felt like it was a Hollywood movie, something that could reach into the mainstream.” [6:34] “No pro skier would ever put their goggles on top of the helmet.” [10:49] “In all the auditions of the core cast, there was a uniqueness that came through in each of them.” [14:03] “I was having the best time, all of the time.” [31:26] “To be somebody’s scene partner and also their director, is a really tricky relationship dynamic.” [37:09] “Don’t be afraid to admit that you have no idea what you’re doing, because people will rally around you and want to support that kind of attitude.” [43:46] Mentioned:Weak LayersFollow Katie on IG Find No Film School everywhere:On the Webhttps://nofilmschool.com/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschoolTwitter https://twitter.com/nofilmschoolYouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschoolInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/nofilmschoolSend us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.In today’s episode, No Film School’s Charles Haine, GG Hawkins, and Jason Hellerman discuss: The lack of visuals and creativity in this year’s commercials Trusting your gut feeling The Academy Awards - they are introducing a new category  Why people don’t appreciate what a casting director does  Benefits to starting as a casting director Kodak’s new camera we have all been waiting for - for literally 8 years How this new camera is great for modern production sets Why per per-screen averages are more important than box office numbers Memorable Quotes “Celebrity gags. It’s not special anymore when literally everyone is doing it.” [7:11] “There was a moment in the internet where virality could occur organically, by people sharing things because of the joy of it.” [8:59] “Casting is truly an art and a science.” [15:55] “The only thing indie filmmakers care about is our per-screen ratio.” [29:14] Mentioned:Academy Awards Adding a "Casting" Category in 2026 First Footage From the Kodak Super 8 CameraChrysler, Born of FireFind No Film School everywhere:On the Webhttps://nofilmschool.com/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschoolTwitter https://twitter.com/nofilmschoolYouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschoolInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/nofilmschoolSend us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every year at Sundance, we aim to speak with indie filmmaking teams who have collaborated on some of our favorite movies. Learning from these successful collaborations can help us in our own future projects. Let’s take a look at the collaboration between filmmakers Francesca Silvestri and Laura Chinn, and how their undeniable chemistry helped them in the production of the film, Suncoast. In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins, speaks with Francesca Silvestri and Laura Chinn to discuss: Feeling both nervous and excited for the wide release of the film Not having to sell the film at Sundance Never taking no for an answer What Laura and Francesca love about working together  Challenges with shooting in certain locations Tapping into the 2000s nostalgia without overdoing it Seeing younger casts at Sundance this year  Being at shocked at how many writers don’t write Trusting that feedback is constructive and helpful  Why self-development is so helpful for filmmakers  Memorable Quotes “There are so many that have come into my life, that I will never work with again after this experience.” [6:36] “The 2000s in my opinion were not inherently cool.” [10:54] “When they tell you it’s bad and they give you a bunch of notes, cry hard and then move on.” [17:28] “When you do write, you do get better at it. When you do listen to other people’s feedback, you get better at it.” [17:40] “Work on you man, because everything will get better. Everything will get easier. Writing, directing, producing, whatever it is.” [20:53] Mentioned:Suncoast - Streaming on Hulu, Feb 9, 2024Find No Film School everywhere:On the Webhttps://nofilmschool.com/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschoolTwitter https://twitter.com/nofilmschoolYouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschoolInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/nofilmschoolSend us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matthew Vaughn, known for films like Snatch, Kick-Ass, and the Kingsman franchise, didn’t actually think he would become a director when he started working in film. Vaughn first became a producer and then transitioned to directing - and are we glad he did! His recent film, Argylle, is a star-packed, action-comedy that you don’t want to miss!In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins, Jason Hellerman and Director Matthew Vaughn discuss: What we love about the actors in Argylle How all the twists in the film serve as nice story beats  Secretly copying and reading scripts as an intern What is was like working with Guy Ritchie The moment Matthew decided to try directing Why the script is so important to the whole production process Work weeks: 6 days versus 5 days The scariest moment of making a film Building an industry based off a film How important the title is to a film’s branding  Memorable Quotes “I chose to be a producer because I was told you don’t have to have any qualifications, apart from the art of bullshitting.” [13:24] “I realized from that point, I would never ever make a movie that I didn’t love and believe in the screenplay.” [18:12] “Indecision is death. Bad decisions can be fixed. No decision can’t be.” [25:38] “If you do get a day off, just sleep.” [28:11] Mentioned:Argylle View the $71 Million Budget for the M. Night Shyamalan Movie 'The Village' Intimacy Workshop for Film, TV, and TheaterFind No Film School everywhere:On the Webhttps://nofilmschool.com/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschoolTwitter https://twitter.com/nofilmschoolYouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschoolInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/nofilmschoolSend us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do we deal with losing someone we love? Is it even possible to move on? These questions are explored in Handling the Undead, a film that meditates on topics such as grief and loss and the impossible wish of wanting the past to become the present. Handling the Undead, which is based on the best-selling Norwegian novel of the same name, premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins, speaks with Director Thea Hvistendahl to discuss: Thea’s feelings and thoughts post-premiere Having the sound and images tell the story as opposed to dialogue Her approach to directing and staging actors  Using a mix of real people, prosthetics, VFX, and dolls Finding the balance between looking dead but not like zombies The challenges in shooting the final scene How Thea became a filmmaker Financing the feature and shooting in multiple countries Getting the balance right between the different stories within the film  Feeling anxious during the screening process Trusting her gut feelings in the editing process Having a much needed celebration when the film was finally finished Memorable Quotes “For the human brain, it’s more unsettling the more realistic it is… I wanted it to be as realistic as possible.” [16:15] “The finale was the hardest part to solve, but it worked in the end.” [20:21] “It really pains me to do stuff that doesn’t feel right, but sometimes I try it.” [27:29] “It dragged out a very long time, so it wasn’t like a cathartic moment…It was a very slow finishing process.” [30:07] “It’s always better to make something…rather than wait and hold back.” [31:16] Mentioned:Handling the Undead Find No Film School everywhere:On the Webhttps://nofilmschool.com/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschoolTwitter https://twitter.com/nofilmschoolYouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschoolInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/nofilmschoolSend us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let’s say you’re an indie filmmaker and Nicole Kidman asks you to direct her tv show. You say “hell yeah” right? Well, that wasn’t Lulu Wang’s first response when she was approached to direct the Amazon Prime limited series, Expats.In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins, speaks with Director Lulu Wang to discuss: Why Lulu originally rejected Nicole Kidman’s proposal to direct the show How she protected her creative vision in a high production, studio project Exploring and dissecting privilege throughout the show Where they always start when planning each episode Changing the visual language in each episode Episode 5 - It premiered as a standalone film at TIFF The different perspectives represented in the writer’s room The benefits to shooting on location Recording real life sounds while location scouting Starting a production company to support other filmmakers Why emerging filmmakers shouldn’t follow industry trends Memorable Quotes “I initially said no. I passed on it, because it just felt so typical Hollywood.” [3:35] “Beauty is very subjective. It has to function within the context of the story.” [7:47] “The context through which you meet someone, colors the way that you see them.” [12:04] “I always see it as such a blessing if someone tells me that I’m wrong, or that I can do things better.” [14:06] “If you follow the trend, you’re always going to be a step behind.” [27:56] Mentioned:Follow Lulu on IGEXPATSThe Farewell Find No Film School everywhere:On the Webhttps://nofilmschool.com/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschoolTwitter https://twitter.com/nofilmschoolYouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschoolInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/nofilmschoolSend us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are the Oscars the leading edge of culture, or are they trailing behind? While some of this year's nominations happily surprised us, other nominations have left us wondering if the academy is just voting for what’s familiar. Also, what’s up with big films skipping a theatrical release and going straight to streaming?In today’s episode, No Film School’s Charles Haine, GG Hawkins, and Jason Hellerman discuss: Favorite films and biggest takeaways from Sundance 2024 Upcoming No Film School episodes highlighting Sundance filmmakers Jason breaking up a fight in the AMC lobby  Our opinions on the 2024 Academy Award nominations How the Oscars are staying internationally relevant Comedy versus drama  An actor who sold his Oscar to pay for healthcare The dark history behind the Oscars - why they were created Why Doug Liman is boycotting the premiere of his film Road House Why filmmakers have to be conscious of audience activation Memorable Quotes “One of my favorite things about the Oscars is when they bring attention to a movie that wouldn’t get it otherwise.” [13:23] “Drama trumps comedy in awards, always. Which I think is bullshit.” [19:00] “It’s not misogyny, but snobbery.” [27:44] “All of the craft awards are never the best, it’s the most. It’s never the best edited movie, it’s the most edited movie.” [34:02] “If we all stay silent and continue to let these big corporate overlords make these decisions…we are going to lose that communal experience.” [42:50] Mentioned:The 2024 Academy Awards NominationsHow Does Oscar Voting Work? 'Road House' Director Doug Liman Boycotts SXSW Over Amazon Exiling His Movie to Streaming Brooklyn 35mmFind No Film School everywhere:On the Webhttps://nofilmschool.com/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschoolTwitter https://twitter.com/nofilmschoolYouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschoolInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/nofilmschoolSend us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices