The No Film School Podcast

Today’s guest is director, Jason Woliner. Jason is the director of Borat 2, Nathan For You, and the latest rule breaking show, Paul T. Goldman. We chat about pushing forward on your ideas, even when receiving constant rejection. In this episode, we talk about… How comedy has evolved to include real people in real life situations People thinking Paul’s story is completely fake and that he is just an actor Allowing Paul to make decisions and follow his lead Finally selling the show after getting over a hundred rejections The role timing plays in getting projects made Marveling at the decisions Paul’s mind made in writing the script  Memorable Quotes “I feel like there’s been this shift where real life is just crazier and funnier than anything that is just purely written.” [3:28] “The richness of life is so much weirder, funnier, more interesting than most written content.” [4:31] “Yes, it’s unpolished and it sounds different, but it’s a real person expressing their version of their life.” [15:34] “Most of my career has been spent trying and failing to get things made.” [23:22] Mentioned:Paul T. GoldmanFind 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/nofilmschoolGet your questions answered on the podcast by emailing editor@nofilmschool.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s episode, we host a roundtable discussion with cinematographers of four different Sundance films. We chat about problem solving on set, collaborating with directors, creative lighting solutions, protecting your energy for the stories you love, and finding the silver lining in the less than ideal projects. In this episode, we talk about… Four different Sundance films and what they are about How these DP’s booked their jobs Using a single camera versus two cameras Implementing unique lighting techniques  Having longer takes with minimal camera movement  Working as a gaffer versus working as a DP Finding the community you love and holding onto it Recognizing the opportunity cost when you take a film just to shoot something  Memorable Quotes “I feel like I have a connection to all these films because I’ve lived in New York, I have multigenerational family drama, I didn’t join a satanic cult, but I did go to theater camp.” [3:37] “An intense amount of prep and being as prepared as possible with a detailed shot list, floor plans and photo boards.” [24:23] “There is so much value in working on sets in other roles.” [43:13] “You kill yourself for a movie and you don’t want to kill yourself for a bad one.” [46:08] Mentioned:Nate Hurtsellers - Theater CampNate Hurtsellers InstagramDan Adlerstein - Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of SoulsDan Adlerstein InstagramScott Miller - A Little PrayerScott Miller InstagramZach Kuperstein - Power SignalZach Kuperstein InstagramFind 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/nofilmschoolGet your questions answered on the podcast by emailing editor@nofilmschool.com!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, No Film School founder Ryan Koo, writer Alyssa Miller, and podcast co-host GG Hawkins discuss their favorite aspects of Sundance 2023. They discuss the most impactful films they watched, the nature of networking at the festival, and the exciting film acquisitions that occurred. In this episode, we talk about… Sundance films that we loved Mutual exhaustion and excitement everyone experienced at Sundance Understanding the currency of human emotion How, without Sundance, it would be difficult for certain films to be made Why you don't need a full scale production to make a brilliant film Having to navigate relationships in the industry with a guard up  The value in making connections in such a concentrated amount of time Multiple $20 million acquisitions for independent filmmakers Memorable Quotes “Diversity in emotion. The entirety of the human experience is found in this slate.” [1:32] “The currency of human emotion…will probably be one of the hardest things for A.I. to define.” [10:20] “Wow! Movies are so alive and well. Independent film is so alive and well.” [29:21] “You really bond when you’re freezing.” [30:26] “You are your own business as a filmmaker, and you have to be making these connections.” [37:50] 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/nofilmschoolGet your questions answered on the podcast by emailing editor@nofilmschool.com!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recently we were honored to interview the director of Sundance film, The Tuba Thieves, Alison O’Daniel. She shares what it was like to create a film that focused primarily on sound oversight. The Tuba Thieves not only challenges the rules of filmmaking, but it revolutionizes the way we do captioning.Full transcript available here. In this episode, we talk about: A film 11 years in the making. Slow burn by design…  The future of captioning and O'Daniel's How to Caption resource Breaking the rules of filmmaking Finding the champions of your project—both with labs and grants, and without ‘em Patient, piecemeal filmmaking No Film School's coverage of Sundance 2023 is brought to you by Adobe.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/nofilmschoolGet your questions answered on the podcast by emailing editor@nofilmschool.com!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No Film School writers, Alyssa Miller, GG Hawkins, and Ryan Koo discuss the opening weekend of the 2023 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. We share why it has been so great to be back at Sundance in person. Also, we speak to a Powderkeg development executive about the future of indie films. In this episode, we talk about… The difficulty in choosing what to go to due to all the options Approaching your Sundance experience as if you are a character in a script Sharing our various objectives and goals for the festival Theories on the budget cuts Sundance has made The lack of distribution of the films at the festival Appreciating the happy energy of filmmakers at Sundance Powderkeg’s purpose for going to the festival How important it is to build relationships in this industry Staying true to your voice by not chasing mandates We also discuss the following Sundance films: Birth/rebirth In My Mother’s Skin Cassandro Claudio’s Song Chanshi Fantastic Machine Magazine Dreams Memorable Quotes “It’s so hard to watch a movie in the middle of your work day and feel like you’re actually at a festival.” [0:50] “Part of the filmmaker experience at Sundance is knowing where you sit in the pecking order.” [4:30] “Even if you have a film in the festival, it doesn’t mean you’re getting into the party.” [8:07] “The reality of Sundance is ditch or be ditched. And it’s gonna happen to you and you just have to accept it and go with the flow.” [8:19] “Be honest, be authentic and put yourself out there.” [35:05] MentionedAdobeAlyssa MillerGG HawkinsRyan KooPowderkegFind 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/nofilmschoolGet your questions answered on the podcast by emailing editor@nofilmschool.com!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s episode, we offer our suggestions for how to have a successful Sundance experience. Also, we chat about having our film gear robbed from our cars, and we share our thoughts on a recent lawsuit against A.I.In this episode, we talk about… How people, who live in the same city, will make plans to hang out at a film festival in a different state Why you need to volunteer or attend Sundance regularly  Getting over your ego and letting people think something was their idea How to avoid buying stolen gear Why we are worried about a particular A.I. lawsuit Figuring out how to wield the A.I. sword in the future Memorable Quotes “You start getting stuff into Sundance, five years after you go regularly.” [9:51] “You learn so much about whether or not you even have a chance.” [12:12] “My job is to make you think it’s your idea.” [27:07] “You’re a nerd. I can rent to you.” [36:56] “There’s so much happening underneath the surface that we don’t know about.” [45:53] MentionedArtists Fight A.I in New Class Action LawsuitFind 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/nofilmschoolGet your questions answered on the podcast by emailing editor@nofilmschool.com!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest is Editor Lee Smith, editor of 'The Dark Knight', 'Dunkirk', '1917' and recently 'Empire of Light'. We chat with Lee and find out more about this invisible art. He also describes what it was like working on the recent film, Empire of Light, now in theaters.In this episode, we talk about… Comparing Empire of Light to other films he has done in the past The difficulty in choosing takes when working with great actors  Knowing how things will work in post production Solving rubik's cube situations in the edit Trusting your own instincts What Lee thinks is the secret sauce to a good film The defining film of his career Pacing and rhythm of a film Memorable Quotes “It’s the same kind of thing as cutting a bigger film, just in a shorter amount of time and with obviously less complexity in the visual world.” [4:50] “There’s a million things in editing that you can do to tweak anything.” [8:30] “I am a lover of most films. There are very few films I won’t watch.” [13:18] MentionedEmpire of Light is in theatersFind No Film School everywhere:On the Webhttps://nofilmschool.com/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool Twitter https://twitter.com/nofilmschool YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschoolInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/nofilmschoolGet your questions answered on the podcast by emailing editor@nofilmschool.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s episode, we discuss the importance and benefits of diversity in filmmaking. Also, we chat about the problems with how the industry handles VFX work, and we discuss a big dilemma Francis Ford Coppola is now facing.In this episode, we talk about… The Golden Globes problem with diversity Proactively diversifying our teams  The clique-like nature of filmmaking How the industry doesn’t want to acknowledge good VFX work Our theories about Francis Ford Coppola losing his entire crew Why you should never self finance a movie Memorable Quotes “More diverse teams yield better products,stories, and films.” [5:53] “Culture fit tends to become this blanket term of something that’s hard to overcome.” [8:35] “Making conscious effort to find new collaborators is an exciting thing that should be pursued” [10:45] “There’s a danger in brushing aside the labor that goes into it.” [21:27] MentionedGolden Globe winnersIs Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Megalopolis’ in Trouble?Find No Film School everywhere:On the Webhttps://nofilmschool.com/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool Twitter https://twitter.com/nofilmschool YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschoolInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/nofilmschoolGet your questions answered on the podcast by emailing editor@nofilmschool.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the past thirteen years, No Film School has published thousands of free articles, videos, and podcasts (this is episode 600!). But to really impact filmmakers’ careers, we’ve always wanted to create in-depth online courses available to everyone around the world. After a decade, we’re finally doing it with How to Make Money as a Cinematographer. Editor-in-chief George Edelman is joined by NFS Founder Ryan Koo and director/DP Charles Haine to talk about why we created our very first in-depth online course.In this episode, we talk about… Developing a course for the past 1.5 years Our exclusive worldwide survey of cinematographer day rates Tools and tips that will help you save money and increase your revenue Putting the “school” in No Film School The reason there are so many cinematographers in the NFS community  How to buy and profit off your gear (hint: don't use a credit card!) MentionedHow To Make Money As A Cinematographer (launch week pricing available now for 40% off)The First Feature - The making of AMATEUR with writer-director Ryan Koo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For most of the history of the entertainment industry, there has been a large disconnect between what audiences want to see and what the large studios create. In this episode, we find out how one company is changing that by re-shaping the industry in a meaningful way.In this episode, we talk about… Legion M - The world's first fan-owned entertainment company Why Paul Scanlan and Jeff Annison started Legion M Being grateful for the community that has taken a chance on this experiment Breaking the big wall between those who make the content and those who watch the content The many diverse ways investors are directly involved in the company  Getting emotional ROI from being involved in the company  Sharing advance screening of film with their elite scouts  The low cost to invest with Legion M Memorable Quotes “We’re uniting entertainment fans from all around the world, to co-own our own entertainment company. Think of it as a production company on it’s way to being a studio.” [2:34] “We are the ones who fuel the entire business. We buy the tickets. We pay the subscriptions. We choose what to watch.” [3:03] “I am not exactly an insider in Hollywood. I like to maintain an outsider’s perspective.” [6:12] “You don't make great art by committee.” [13:47] “Imagine having a company with a built-in audience that is not confined to an existing franchise.” [29:09] MentionedLegion MFind No Film School everywhere:On the Webhttps://nofilmschool.com/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool Twitter https://twitter.com/nofilmschool YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschoolInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/nofilmschoolGet your questions answered on the podcast by emailing editor@nofilmschool.com!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices