

Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie Filmmaking
Liz Manashil & Alrik Bursell
Liz Manashil and Alrik Bursell discuss independent filmmaking, everything from writing, producing and directing to working as crew. But this is not just a podcast about "making it," it's also about struggling with rejection, self-doubt and everything else that comes with pursuing a career in film. Follow along as we forge our own way through the industry and talk to guests who are also making it happen.
Episodes 238-299 are available at our patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Episodes 238-299 are available at our patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 26, 2025 • 48min
Jennifer Sorenson - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 503 from November 2024 featuring producer, writer, actor and director Jennifer Sorenson who talked about making her first feature For When You're Lost. I thought this was a good match for our episode with Kerry Carlock from Monday because they both talk about pulling their features together and Jennifer was involved with Kerry’s latest feature Suffer. After that we play another round of You’re the expert, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.

Dec 22, 2025 • 1h 11min
Kerry Carlock - Embracing a Lower Budget for Feature #2!
This week we welcome writer/director Kerry Carlock to the show to talk about her second feature Suffer which she co-wrote and directed with her husband. Kerry talks about going from a $200k budget to a sub 50k budget and how that changed her process as a filmmaker. After that we play another round of THE GAME, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.

Dec 20, 2025 • 1h 5min
Garo Setian - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 425 from January 2022 featuring producer, director, writer, editor, Garo Setian who talked about making his feature Space Wars: The Quest for the Deepstar. Alrik thought this was a good match for our episode with MAR because they both wore multiple hats in making their sci-fi features. After that we play another round of You’re the expert, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.

Dec 15, 2025 • 53min
MAR - Writing, Producing and Directing an Indie Sci-Fi Feature!
This week we welcome writer/director/producer MAR on the show to talk about how he got his next feature Dresden Sun made starring Chrisitina Ricci, MAR also talks about why he likes taking on multiple roles as a filmmaker. After that we read a apple podcast review and talk about the current statuses of our projects, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.

Dec 11, 2025 • 55min
Jade Halley Bartlett - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 462 from Feburary 2024 featuring writer and director Jade Halley Bartlett who talks about making her feature Millers Girl starring Martin Freeman and Jeana Ortega. I thought this was a good match for Hikari since they are both successful directors with movies starring movie stars! After that we play another round of You’re the expert, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.

Dec 8, 2025 • 42min
HIkari - Making High End TV to Indie Festival Darlings!
This week we welcome writer/director Hikari on the show to talk her latest film Rental Family, starring Branden Fraser, how she came up with the story for the film and the process to get it made. We also talked about her earlier career, making her first feature and directing episodes of Tokyo Vice and BEEF. After that we play another round of THE GAME, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.

Dec 4, 2025 • 53min
Orsi Nagypal - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 399 from November 2022 with director Orsi Nagypal who talks about leveling up her directing career, getting hired to direct The Outpost then getting the opportunity to pitch Dean Devlin to direct her first feature The Deal with a very healthy budget. I thought Orsi was a good match for our episode with Simon Cellan Jones because they both talk about the circumstances of how they leveled up as a director. After that Liz and I respond to a listener email, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.

Dec 1, 2025 • 1h 4min
Olivia Nash - Not Taking No for an Answer on Your First Feature!
This week we welcome actor, writer and director Olivia Nash on the show to talk about writing and directing and starring in her first feature film, Hi! Olivia talks about how she got the film made, the proof of concept films she made beforehand and how she got the funds together for the feature! After that we play another round of The Game, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.

Nov 24, 2025 • 57min
Simon Cellan Jones - From Directing Low Budget TV to The Family Plan 2!
This week we welcome director Simon Cellan Jones on the show to talk about the making of his mega sequel The Family Plan 2, how he landed the directing job on the original The Family Plan and how he has managed to level up as a director throughout his career. After that we play another round of The Game, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.

Nov 20, 2025 • 1h 13min
Dan Mirvish - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 313 from April 2021 featuring producer, writer and director Dan Mirvish. I thought this was a good match for our episode with Ted Geoghegan from Monday because they are both prolific indie filmmakers with deep roots in the festival scene. After that we play another round of You’re the expert, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon!
www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts!
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.


