The No Film School Podcast

Not all documentary filmmakers planned to be in the documentary space. Some didn’t even know they would be in the film industry to begin with. This is what we talked about in our round table discussion at Sundance, with a group of documentary film directors. Each of these award-winning directors have decades of experience in filmmaking. In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins, speaks with documentary directors Alex Stapleton, Jeff Zimbalist, Michael John Warren, and Tony Gerber to discuss: Their current projects What it’s like to finally turn the camera on yourself as a director How to find yourself and who you really want to be Their unique paths to becoming documentary filmmakers Earning more money and having more creative autonomy  Holding onto your projects even if it doesn’t sell right away  Why you should avoid industry chatter Finding the overlap between your hobby and filmmaking Figuring out where to start - production or post A good story is more important than high-tech tools Memorable Quotes “Documentaries were a way to insert myself into the heart of certain communities around the world.” [17:30] “I did not go to film school. I didn’t even finish college.” [19:18] “It’s okay to not know where you’re going. Sometimes following your gut and not having a master plan is fruitful, and builds wisdom.” [25:44] “My mother always told me, don’t work in the film business. It’s full of criminals.” [26:08] “I don’t think about what the audience wants. I think about what the audience doesn’t yet know that they need.” [47:47] The only thing that matters is story and learning how to tell a good story. The tools are just tools.” [51:16] “Think about the story. Pick a side of the industry you want to be in. And be so good they can’t say no.” [51:39] Mentioned:Alex Stapleton  God Save Texas - The Price of Oil EpisodeJeff ZimbalistSkywalkers: A Love StoryMichael John Warren  Lolla: The Story of LollapaloozaTony Gerber  War GameFind 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

Jazmin Jones and Olivia McKayla Ross are the creative minds behind the documentary, Seeking Mavis Beacon. The feature, which premiered at Sundance 2024, investigates the disappearance and reexamines the legacy of one of the most influential Black women in technology. The documentary also explores topics like ethics, consent, and having a healthy relationship with technology. In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins speaks with Director Jazmin Jones and Associate Producer Olivia McKayla Ross, to discuss: How Jazmin and Olivia met and started working together The benefit of not having a film career before making the project Why the investigation itself was the priority over the film  How they built the digital world of the film Consent - how it became part of the narrative Community organizing versus filmmaking How street photography taught Jazmin about the importance of consent The power of using search engines  How they created a safe, beautiful space in their headquarters Asking for what you need and what you want Why you should follow your instincts  The magical experience of seeing other people react to the film Memorable Quotes “More than using the language of the film industry, we were using the language of collective organizing.” [7:15] “In community organizing, you’re thinking of the long-term impacts of the things you are doing.” [13:20] “The longer it takes you to ask for the thing you suspect you might need, the more it costs you.” [27:25] “Having a room of people laugh at my dad’s dad jokes is like the best thing in the world.” [30:16] Mentioned:Seeking Mavis BeaconFollow Jazmin on IGFollow Olivia on IG Unpacking the Ethical Minefield of Docs with the Team Behind ‘Subject’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

At No Film School, we enjoy diving into both the hard skills and soft skills required to be successful in this industry. For example, we enjoy the technical talk of cinematography. We also like diving into things like leadership skills, collaboration decisions, and how to hire or fire. These are some of the things we discuss with a roundtable of cinematographers whose films premiered at Sundance and Slamdance this year.In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins, speaks with cinematographers Bruce Francis Cole, Alejandro Mejia, and Sean Mattison to discuss: How all three DP’s got connected to their respective projects Thinking of the setting as a “character” in the story Working with light and figuring out tone The benefits of using multiple cameras Allowing your team the freedom to express themselves The importance of picking your team Cutting off stressful energy before it spreads to the rest of the crew How they decide what projects to work on Choosing personality over technical ability Memorable Quotes “We chose the lenses that had the character built into them.” [24:51] “What elements can we bring into it visually that will bring the audience into this world?” [26:53] “If you can pick your team you truly trust in, you can easily allow everyone to do their job.” [33:32] “We’re sensitive people. We work in a creative field.” [48:17] “It’s a very New York thing that I learned when I moved there. People either like you or not.” [48:39] MentionedSuncoastConnect with Bruce on IG In the SummersConnect with Alejandro on IG Petro Connect with Sean 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

Molly Manning Walker is the Writer-Director of How to Have Sex. The story follows three British teen girls who find themselves navigating the complexities of sex, consent, and self-discovery while on holiday in Greece. The film has won awards across various film festivals, including British Independent Film Awards, Cannes Film Festival, Athens International Film Festival, and others. It premiered at Sundance 2024 in the Spotlight film section.In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins, speaks with Molly Manning Walker to discuss: The inspiration behind the film Realizing her own friendships as a teen were quite harsh Unexpected reactions from the audience Exploring the glorification of party culture The process of choosing a cinematographer Director vs DP - The POV of the set changes  Why some scenes were heavily scripted and others improvised Navigating a group of high energy teen actors The benefit of doing experimental takes Bringing in an intimacy coordinator so the cast felt protected How Molly created a safe environment for both cast and crew Memorable Quotes “How I see a film set has always been through a lens. Through holding a camera.” [7:16] “It was definitely difficult navigating six really high energy young people.” [11:47] “Watch your film on mute and see if it still makes sense.” [24:13] “The more time you put into something, you eventually break through.” [25:34] MentionedHow to Have Sex 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

This year No Film School hosted an alumni party at Sundance, and it was amazing to see the community come together in person. The connections made at the party truly embody the ethos behind No Film School - accessibility, humility, and vulnerability. In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins, Ryan Koo, and Jo Light discuss:  The amazing energy in the room at the No Film School Alumni Party Seeing the community expand into more film groups across the country Why we love the commitment of filmmakers who continue to create stories  Resources for filmmakers outside of Los Angeles and New York More films we enjoyed at the festival Not having specific festival goals and letting opportunities happen naturally Some of our magical festival moments  Advice we would give to our younger selves Memorable Quotes “Let’s try to be vulnerable and human, and recognize we are here because we want to make things.” [5:39] “Stop Hedging. Grab some friends. Just do it. Plant your flag.” [9:14] “Going into a dark theater. Turning your damn phone off. And totally giving yourself over to something that no one else in the world has seen before.” [13:12] “It felt great to come here without a specific expectation, and then be pleasantly surprised.” [20:46] “Sundance. I’m never not coming to this. I want to be here every year.” [22:43] Mentioned:Krazy HouseWar GameDìdiI Saw the TV Glow A Real PainFind 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

Amrou Al-Kadhi is the Writer-Director of Layla, a story that explores the conflict between desire and identity. The film stars actor Bilal Hasna who plays Layla, a London drag queen, and actor Louis Greatorex, who plays Max, the love interest. The film premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins, speaks with Amrou Al-Kadhi, Bilal Hasna, and Louis Greatorex to discuss: The six year process of making the film What it’s like to watch the film multiple times at Sundance Unexpected reactions of the audience How making shorts helped Amrou learn to work on a set The benefits of working with a director who has acting experience Why the best actors hold back in some scenes  The reason Amrou encourages actors to play against the lines Why directors should budget for extra rehearsal time  The casting process and chemistry read  Memorable Quotes “Feeling the audience be shocked was quite fun.” [7:58] “Shorts are more like poems, whereas films are more like novels.” [9:05] “It’s really hard to get actors to lie on screen.” [14:37] “It’s a family you are building. You are not doing it on your own. It can be really hard, so you need to have people around you, you really trust.” [28:30] MentionedLayla Amrou Al-Kadhi on IGBilal Hasna on IGLouis Greatorex on IGFind No Film School everywhere:On the Webhttps://nofilmschool.com/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschoolTwitter https://twitter.com/nofilmschoolYouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/nofilmschoolSend us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Highlights of the podcast include discussing the importance of the volunteer community at Sundance, reflecting on personal experiences at the festival, reimagining horror tropes in films, and exploring a unique love story set in the future. The hosts also emphasize the importance of risk-taking and short films at Sundance.

Not all award-winning filmmakers planned for a career in film when they were younger. Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite found her love of film in her thirties, and has since directed films such as Blackfish, Our Friend, and many others. She recently directed I.S.S., a high-stakes thriller set in the International Space Station, which will be released in theaters on Jan 19. In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins speaks with Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite to discuss: Unexpectedly starting a career in filmmaking  Wanting to effect change through films Working for free and doing whatever job she could A very humbling experience early on in Gabriela’s career The differences between documentary filmmaking and narrative filmmaking Surviving the lows during production The importance of having interests outside of filmmaking Establishing the world and dynamic between the characters in the film I.S.S Bringing characters to life who do not fit into a stereotype Filmmaking - it’s not more glamorous than other jobs Memorable Quotes “You really have to put in the work. You really have to collaborate.” [12:14] “There’s this cool adventurous feeling you have when you’re doing it, because every single day could be a question mark.” [15:55] “The highs are very high, and the lows are very low.” [16:42] “It seems like it’s greater than the sum of its parts, but it’s not. It’s just the parts.” [36:36] “Just remember, it’s one foot in front of the other.” [37:51] MentionedI.S.S. trailerUnpacking the Ethical Minefield of Docs with the Team Behind ‘Subject’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

It’s a given that there will be a series of both highs and lows when you work in film. While the lows can feel brutal, it’s important to remember that they don’t last forever. More often than not, these low moments end up becoming powerful lessons that make us stronger filmmakers in the long run. In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins and Jason Hellerman discuss: Some of our lowest moments as filmmakers Being at rock bottom and crawling your way back up Recognizing when you need rest as an exhausted filmmaker Finding hobbies outside of film and television Having people who will help you bounce back Building strength to sustain yourself on set  How to build meaningful relationships outside of social media  Networking - Don’t always make it transactional  Memorable Quotes “All of a sudden, I couldn’t breathe and my hands went numb.” [2:22] “It felt like I was valued and then was immediately devalued, not only as a writer but as a person.” [7:25] “You learn from having to hit the ground so many times, that you gotta keep getting back up.” [30:31] “Get off of social media. Get out into the real world. Network in person.” [34:58] 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/nofilmschool Instagramhttps://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 want to network, grow, and succeed as a filmmaker, you have to learn to get comfortable talking about your work. Luckily there are programs, like the Moonshot Initiative, which help emerging filmmakers successfully pitch their projects without feeling confused or afraid.In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins speaks with nonprofit founders, Tracy Sayre and Katrina Medoff, to discuss: How the Moonshot Initiative helps advance the careers of underrepresented voices Working with people in all stages of their career  Offering a safe space for program participants to ask questions The pilot accelerator program that helps filmmakers pitch tv show ideas How Tracy and Katrina know when they have found an excellent script  The mentality you need going into a pitch meeting Writing the pitch before writing the script Why you have to be comfortable talking about your work Memorable Quotes “Never be afraid to ask questions. You can’t walk into every room and assume you know the answer.” [12:45] “Our audience had ideas, but they didn’t have the connections.” [17:15] “People hearing pitches want you to succeed.” [23:46] Mentioned:Moonshot Initiative on IG The Moonshot Initiative WebsiteFind 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