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The Film Riot Podcast

Film & TV News

The Film Riot Podcast is a conversation with talented and innovative filmmakers. From directors, editors, stunt coordinators, DPs, Actors, VFX artists, and so on... We will be diving into the process, art, and lifestyle of filmmaking from every aspect.

Location:

United States

Description:

The Film Riot Podcast is a conversation with talented and innovative filmmakers. From directors, editors, stunt coordinators, DPs, Actors, VFX artists, and so on... We will be diving into the process, art, and lifestyle of filmmaking from every aspect.

Twitter:

@filmriot

Language:

English

Contact:

9547018710


Episodes

A Brand New Way to Get a Film Made

3/2/2022
Chris and Zeek are the writer/director team behind PROSPECT, an indie sci-fi film that broke through the ceiling of its budget and has since gone on to find its audience on streaming. Even though Chris and Zeek were happy with their film, they couldn't help but think that there must be a better way to get a budget for their film while retaining creative control and including the wider community around the project. With the birth of NFTs, they think they have found that answer. Today, Ryan chats with the filmmakers about their new venture with The Fringe and how it might change how films are made forever.

Duration:00:51:04

Independent Filmmaking: Pitching, Budgeting, & Casting

11/30/2021
Via Twitter Spaces, Ryan interviews Scott Glassgold, who answers an array of questions in regards to pitching, budgeting, casting your lead, look books, studio vs. independent filmmaking, and funding feature and TV projects. Scott Glassgold is a Manager and Producer with well over a decade of experience. After getting his start at New Line Cinema and Disney, Scott Founded Ground Control, an innovative Management, and Production company. From there, he’s gone on to nurture several short films and initial ideas to final feature films – such as Prospect and The Beyond. Recently Scott has driven several high-profile deals like his recent 7 figure sale of "My Wife and I Bought a Ranch" to Netflix

Duration:00:42:20

Getting Ambitious with an Indie Budget

8/31/2021
How do you make a small budget seem large or few resources seem plentiful? That is what Ryan and Colin Levy discuss in this latest episode. Colin is no stranger to making an indie budget look like a Hollywood blockbuster. His short film, Skywatch stands shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the biggest films you've seen, all done with far fewer resources than you'd think.

Duration:01:06:39

Editing HBO's Mare of Easttown

8/17/2021
Amy Duddleston is the Emmy nominated editor of HBO's MARE OF EASTTOWN. Amy's work span decades and genres, culminating in a wellspring of wisdom and talent. From the shot-for-shot PSYCHO remake to the Tarantinoesque Amazon series HUNTERS, Amy consistently wields an incredible sense of pacing, story, and character. Today Ryan and Amy dive into Amy's work and how she constructs such engaging and emotional edits.

Duration:00:59:28

Developing, Pitching, and Selling Feature Films

5/11/2021
Scott Glassgold is a Manager and Producer with well over a decade of experience. After getting his start at New Line Cinema and Disney, Scott Founded Ground Control, an innovative Management, and Production company. From there, he’s gone on to nurture several short films and initial ideas to final feature films – such as Prospect and The Beyond. Recently Scott has driven several high-profile deals like his recent 7 figure sale of "My Wife and I Bought a Ranch" to Netflix,

Duration:01:25:49

The Importance of a 1st AD

4/27/2021
The importance of the First Assistant Director can't be understated. They set the tone for the crew, keep the production on schedule, and are one of the closest allies of the director. And this is the role Hristo Dimitrov fills with ease. With films like Rambo: Last Blood, Hunter Killer, Paul, Apostle of Christ, and the recent Netflix original Concrete Cowboy on his resume, it's safe to say that Hristo is no stranger to the ins and outs of the process. Today Ryan chats with Hristo about the responsibilities and challenges a 1st AD faces during the making of a feature film.

Duration:00:53:54

Directing Extraction with Sam Hargrave

3/30/2021
Sam Hargrave is the director behind the new Netflix original, Extraction, starring Chris Hemsworth. While Extraction is Sam's first feature as a director, it's far from his first experience with action. With credits in Atomic Blonde, Winter Soldier, Civil War, Infinity War, and End Game, Sam has been a part of creating some of the most exciting action of the last 10 years. In this episode, Sam talks about his path to the director's chair and how he handles action to create those visceral gut-punch-style action sequences.

Duration:00:49:14

Writing/Directing 'I Care a Lot'

3/3/2021
J Blakeson is the writer/director behind the new Netflix original, I Care a Lot, starring Rosamund Pike. J started his career like many of us did, making films with his friends and just trying to figure it out. By 21, he had his first agent and went about trying to get his scripts made. After some years of frustration, J took matters into his own hands and wrote a film that he knew he could make himself with the resources he had. That film ended up being his breakout feature, The Disappearance of Alice Creed. Since then, J has carved a spot for himself in the feature and television world with his unique voice, leading to his latest and possibly best film.

Duration:01:01:17

Telling Stories that Matter

10/27/2020
The journey toward making the feature film “CLOUDS”—now available on Disney+—was a long one for director Justin Baldoni. In 2013 Justin released a short doc on Zach Sobiech, a remarkable 17-year-old diagnosed with osteosarcoma. The story of Zach’s life, how he lived, and how he brightened the world for everyone around him struck a massive chord with Justin. Since then, bringing that story to the screen has been both a passion and a promise to keep. With the film’s release, Justin has kept his promise to Zach and gave us all the gift of perspective with this touching story.

Duration:00:43:14

Making a Creature Feature

10/20/2020
Brett and Drew Pierce are the writer/director team behind the new horror film THE WRETCHED, an old school creature feature with more going on under the hood than just scares. While having a background in Hollywood productions, the brothers still approach their work with a "do-it-yourself" attitude and a complete willingness to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty to make their film happen. Their infectious passion has led to them releasing their latest feature under IFC Films and will undoubtedly grant them more great features to come.

Duration:01:09:30

Don't wait for Hollywood to Make Your Film

10/7/2020
Make your film! That is what drives the team behind the new comedy FAITH BASED. From shooting with iPhones in their living rooms, to what it ultimately became—a full-blown feature film with an impressive cast (Jason Alexander, Lance Riddick, and David Koechner, just to name a few). Vincent Masciale, Luke Barnett, and Tanner Thomason were going to make this film, come "hell" or high water. Now with an October 9th release date and a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, the guys have show that with a little luck and a whole lot of passion and talent, you can make your dream project happen.

Duration:01:13:17

Finding Success in Filmmaking

9/15/2020
“Proceed as if” is some of the best advice a young filmmaker can hear, it perfectly encompasses so many important ideas. But that isn’t the only gem Quincy Ledbetter drops in this latest episode. From the beginning of his infatuation with film sitting in a theater watching Last Action Hero, to finding his way into writing and directing through music and photography - Quincy has always done just that, “Proceed as if”. Now in post on his first feature film “Alieu the Dreamer”, Quincy looks back on what led him here and all the things he learned along the way.

Duration:01:20:51

Making and Distributing Your Film Independently

9/1/2020
"Just make your film" is a rallying cry for many, but very few back up those words with action. Today's guest, the multifaceted Jim Cummings, is absolutely one of those few. Through crowdfunding and self-distribution, Jim has found a lot of success for his first feature "Thunder Road". He's following that up with his next two features: the thriller "The Beta Test" and the horror film "The Werewolf" (his first studio film). Ryan and Jim dive into his unique approach to filmmaking and how he's carving out a path that's all his own. Also, be sure to check out Musicbed's new series "YouTube Masters"

Duration:01:03:28

How a Hollywood Legend Directs Actors

8/18/2020
With films like Saturday Night Fever, Short Circuit, WarGames, and Dracula in his filmography, the term “legendary director” flows out of your mouth when talking about John Badham. But film isn’t the only medium where he left his mark. Badham also directed a list of iconic shows like Heroes, The Shield, and Supernatural. His incredible career has led to a wealth of knowledge about the craft. Lucky for us, John is passionate about sharing, and in this episode, Ryan and John dive deep into working with actors. They cover everything from staging a scene to managing big-name talent.

Duration:00:38:55

Directing a Blockbuster with an Indie Budget

8/4/2020
‘GREYHOUND’ is the latest original film to hit Apple+ TV. Oscar winning writer/director Aaron Schneider chats with Ryan about his process for constructing the intricate battle sequences, pulling story out of the technical, and what it’s like to work with the legendary Tom Hanks! From his humble beginnings as a special effects student, to his growth into a cinematographer and eventually Academy Award-winner, Aaron’s story is one you won’t want to miss!

Duration:00:51:30

Writing & Directing Story Driven Horror

7/21/2020
Relic is the directorial debut of Japanese-Australian writer/director filmmaker, Natalie Erika James. It’s a horror film anchored by its deeply emotional and honest themes, and masterfully co-written and directed by James. Released theatrically in drive-ins, and now available across most major streaming platforms, you’d never guess that Relic is Natalie’s first outing as a feature writer/director. In the episode of the Film Riot podcast, fresh off the experience of making the film, Natalie meets with Ryan to discuss her experience as a first-time writer/director, working with actors, and why she leaned into the horror genre to tell this specific and personal story.

Duration:00:53:17

Emotionally Impactful Cinematography w/ Jody Lee Lipes

7/7/2020
As the cinematographer for such beautiful work as A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Manchester by the Sea, and I Know This Much is True, Jody Lee Lipes brings an emotional honesty to all his work. Of course, every element within the filmmaking process is a part of delivering on that honesty, with arguably two of the most important aspects being the performance and cinematography. Those two elements work together in a creative dance - if one is out of step with the other, the intention won't land and the emotional impact would be lost. Imagine the scene in Contagion where Matt Damon's character learns his wife has died, but with constant dolly moves and lens flares. That emotional honesty is something that Jody pulls off with ease. Today he and Ryan chat about leaning into that meaning and honesty, working with technically difficult scenes (like the twinning in his latest HBO show), and what made him want to be a filmmaker.

Duration:00:58:57

MAKING "STAR WARS: ORIGINS" - A FAN FILM

6/16/2020
If you are wondering how to start making the films you love… To steal from Nike’s slogan… JUST DO IT! That thought process seems to be behind everything Phil Hawkins does. Like most of us, he’s a student of Spielberg, Lucas, and the other greats of that day. Since he broke in, Phil has directed several features and worked with the likes of Al Pacino, Robert Englund, and Christopher Walken. Today Ryan and Phil chat about how he shot an award-winning feature in just two days, making one of the biggest fan films ever made, and the importance of working with people you trust.

Duration:00:56:38

Writing for Film and Television with Dayna Lynne North

5/5/2020
What is "your voice"? Should you start with theme, character, a concept? So many questions flood your brain when you sit down to write, especially when first starting out. Today Ryan chats with the incredible Dayna Lynne North (Writer, Showrunner, and Executive Producer for properties like Veronica Mars, and most recently Insecure for HBO). Ryan and Dayna dive into what your voice is, how she gets started on a project, and what guides her through the writing process.

Duration:00:59:45

Writing & Directing your First Feature

4/28/2020
How do you get your first feature made? It’s the question every aspiring filmmaker wants answered. Today Ryan speaks with Ricky Staub — writer, director, and entrepreneur. After coming off the success of his first narrative project, The Cage (developed in collaboration with Film Supply) Ricky connected with the producers that would help make his first feature a reality. He and Ryan cover everything from his years working under the prolific producer Sam Mercer (on films like THE LAST AIRBENDER, DEVIL, and SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMEN), to starting his own commercial company to hone his technical craft. They explore and dive deep into a discussion about the path and experiences of writing and directing his first feature film, starring IDRIS ELBA no less! You don’t want to miss this!

Duration:01:19:54