The No Film School Podcast

Have you ever played a video game or watched a movie and wondered where did all these sounds come from? Well, it's not all sound libraries and foley stages. Sometimes, projects will hire a person whose sole responsibility is to go out into the world and get fresh sounds. Gunshots, cannons, engines, you name it, their job is to go out and find it and bring it back to be mixed in.Watson Wu is one of those guys, and he has hunted down sounds for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Assassin's Creed and films like Baby Driver. He tells us stories from the front lines, like gathering firearm effects from antique weapon collectors in Florida. We also discuss Watson's role in creating Rode’s new ambisonic sound library. We talk about the insane challenges of obtaining roller coaster sounds and how the job of being a sound recordist, oddly enough, comes down to networking. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week: Christopher Nolan and Steven Soderbergh both weigh in on Warner Bros’ decision to send their entire slate to HBO Max, while Mank harkens back to the yesteryear of studio filmmaking. In Tech News, Apple offers expensive monitors and stands; Charles offers his opinions. And for Ask No Film School we tackle a simple question that is never easy to answer: how does a screenwriter get an agent? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the No Film School Podcast: a COVID testing site gets shut down to make way for a Hollywood film shoot, while The Crown takes liberties fictionalizing historical events and the public must be warned accordingly. We also discuss why the New York Times’ “Greatest Actors of the 21st Century" list is somewhat problematic by nature... and let’s be honest, a bit too early to call? In Tech News: the awesome benefits of the iPhone software Filmic Pro and its new updates. For Ask No Film School: how do you convert the frame rate of your footage? Enjoy--and as always, thank you for listening!Please email us any questions at ask@nofilmschool.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If anyone on this planet is a natural born cinematographer, it might just be Chris Menges. His earthiness and pragmatism combined with his uncanny, innate sensibility for the moving image are what makes his films special: Kes, The Killing Fields and The Mission, to name just a few. If you haven’t seen them, then trust us that they are among the most beautiful movies ever made.Chris Menges has seen a lot of adventure; he's been all over the world, and he has stories. In this wide-ranging discussion we talk about the photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson's influence on Menges' work and the importance of "walking the streets." From his early days in documentary to his later work with directors like Neil Jordan, Stephen Frears, Stephen Daldry and Sean Penn, Menges is a true master of observation... and he's picked up a couple Oscars along the way. Pay your respects and listen to the man speak!For another conversation with a great DP, check out our recent chat with Phedon Papamichael.Please email us any questions at ask@nofilmschool.com!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Luke Greenfield was a young boy with big dreams who wanted to make movies just like his hero Steven Spielberg. His concerned mother writes an impassioned letter to the big man himself, and Mr. Spielberg responded with an encouraging letter. Two decades later, Greenfield grows up to direct The Girl Next Door and guess who's a major fan? Greenfield's story is a heartwarming one, but it's not without its tragedy and realism. He goes in depth on his grueling experience (sort of) directing The Animal with Rob Schneider and his struggles to be taken seriously in the industry as a young voice. Greenfield's goal as a filmmaker is to make you not only laugh hysterically, but to feel. His latest achievement, Half Brothers, hits theaters this Friday, December 4th. Don't miss this lively and honest conversation!If you want to hear more success stories about makers of unconventional comedy movies, check out our interview with the creators of Palm Springs.Please email us any questions at ask@nofilmschool.com!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Climb is one of the biggest indie breakouts of 2020. The debut feature from filmmaking-and-acting duo Michael Angelo Covino and Kyle Marvin played every major film festival you can think of before finally hitting theaters this holiday season. Michael and Kyle sit down with NFS founder Ryan Koo to talk about how they pulled off a buddy comedy made up entirely of long oners; the underutilized power of sound editing; and of course, the benefits of having a death metal ballerino as your dolly grip. They also go in depth on a very, very ballsy stunt done by Kyle, and the thrill of not only taking the film to Cannes, but winning a Jury Prize. The Climb is out now in theaters. Enjoy!Please email us any questions at ask@nofilmschool.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does the new deal struck between Cinemark and Universal mean for the industry? How can movie-goers support theaters while they are closed?Also, this just in: Quentin Tarantino writes books (including a novelization of Once Upon A Time in Hollywood)?? In Tech News, we share our hands-on experience with the new Apple Silicon. For Ask No Film School: what is the best entry-level cinema camera to invest in for music videos and corporate work? And lastly, our theme for Deep Cuts is thanksgiving and gratitude. We hope you enjoy... and Happy Thanksgiving! Please email us any questions at ask@nofilmschool.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Phedon Papamichael's career as a cinematographer goes back to the 80's, but he's still a go-to DP for the best filmmakers in the business. You might call him an “actor’s cinematographer” or a stylistic chameleon. Phedon talks about his approach to the craft: rather than trying to put his visual stamp on a movie, his goal is to serve the story and overall vision. He compares his experiences working with Alexander Payne, George Clooney, Aaron Sorkin and James Mangold -- and what it was like juggling the massive personalities on the set of Sorkin's The Trial of the Chicago 7. Phedon and recalls his early days shooting stripper-centered B-movies under Roger Corman’s tutelage — with Wally Pfister and Janusz Kaminski as his camera crew. This is a masterclass in what it means to be an A-list cinematographer. Don't miss this one: Phedon is the man.Please email us any questions or comments at ask@nofilmschool.com!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Though her most recent triumph is the highly-praised Netflix miniseries The Queen's Gambit, Michelle Tesoro has built a career working with A-list showrunners and directors, within both film and television. From mastering the art of the dialog scene with the HBO series In Treatment, to her collaborations with luminaries like Michael Mann, David Fincher, Ava DuVernay, Mimi Leder and David Milch, she has plenty of stories to tell. Tesero managed to navigate the exact career she wanted and has plenty of wisdom to impart, like why sometimes saying no to projects is even more important than saying yes. We hope you enjoy!More post-production and Queen’s Gambit related goodies here: Cinematic Legend Walter Murch on Editing and Sound Design Here’s What’s New in DaVinci Resolve 17 How Does ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ Create Conflict Without Words? Please email us any questions or comments at ask@nofilmschool.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eric Roth spent much of this year doing significant rewrites to the script of the upcoming Martin Scorsese film, Killers of the Flower Moon. The biggest notes came from co-star Leonardo DiCaprio. On this week's NoFilmSchool, we talk about why the actor chose to play a different role in the movie and is taking the story in a slightly different direction. For Tech News, we give you the lowdown on a new, exciting 4k camera: the Sony FX6. For Ask No Film School, we talk about the do's and don'ts of "greeking." And in honor's of Scorsese's recent birthday: our favorite of the director's movies for this week's Deep Cuts!More about the Sony FX6 here: Sony's FX6 is a 4K Shooter's Wet Dream Early Sony FX6 Reviews Are In--Watch 'Em Now How Does the New Sony FX6 Stack Up Against the Popular FX9? Please email us any questions or comments at ask@nofilmschool.com!*Editorial note: 'Up in the Air' does not star Denzel Washington. Charles meant 'Flight'. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices