Just Shoot It: A Podcast about Filmmaking, Screenwriting and Directing

Matt and Oren spend some time figuring out how to be a normal human being in a world where there’s so much that isn’t normal anymore. We’re way past the new normal!! Like, can you really pitch a potential client on how much you love their toilet paper while your family can’t travel and worry about the next round of incoming missiles? OK, as a commercial director or a filmmaker in general, you know this time of year is slow. Heck, it’s tough enough as it is. Never mind the endless opportunities to accidentally getting caught in the doom scroll of seeing how much everyone else is on set when it seems like all your opportunities are on hold. It’s a weird time, Matt points out. Like, there are families of actors raising money on GoFundMe. And these people had careers on shows and films where, it used to be, the residuals were to die for. But now in 2026, who is making money in the business of LA and Hollywood? It seems you’re either working your a** off, or marketing yourself to get the next gig. (read as… working your a** off in a non-fun way). And at the end of the day, is there ever time to let your brain work as it should (or rather rest as it should), so you can truly be creative??! If you’re looking for ways to stay inspired, creatively, or for energy to simply keep in the game, this is an episode you won’t want to miss! --- Help Matts' film: https://wefunder.com/badfeeling Help our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPod Matt's Endorsement: In Gmail, in the url replace "inbox" with "sub" and you can see all the bulk mail you are signed up for. Oren's Endorsement: Trader Joe's Thai Style Yellow Curry Potato Chips. "Night of the Seven Kingdoms", part of the Game of Thrones world, and sequel to the "House of the Dragon" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah May Bates https://www.sarahmaybates.com/ is an AI director, and she’s been getting lots of work! And Matt and Oren dive deep into how she makes that happen. She’s joined by actor Susan Song. Sarah has a clear line for AI usage. And it comes down to what are you in this for? Do you love the organic aspect of filmmaking and discovery, where what you plan isn’t always what you get? Like, in a good way. Because if you’re not, you might prefer the robotic precision of AI. But be careful of being tricked into believing that’s what brands want, especially the top brands you want to work for. At the end of the day, Sarah believes human oversight is at the core of what creatives do. Like, why would you want to have AI write your script, or even your email? That’s what you do, and that’s what makes you who you are! Here’s the golden rule: if the medium is leading, then you are failing. What does that mean? Don’t fall into the trap of creating AI for the sake of filling the request. Instead, Sarah recommends letting the creative work find what it wants to be! This is the episode you want to hear as an actor, filmmaker, or anyone in the industry looking for some sense of purpose, foundation, and compass for what’s happening in AI! Connect with Sarah at https://www.yaywithme.com Connect with Susan on IG @sujjang012 --- Help Matts' film: https://wefunder.com/badfeeling Help our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPod Matt's Endorsement: Send Help https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8036976/ Nick Lutsko's song for the Manscaped Super Bowl Commercial https://www.local3news.com/local-news/update-chattanooga-artist-nick-lutsko-composes-song-for-national-super-bowl-commercial/article_dd5d9cd0-9c5a-4565-a1af-1dfe3d1ffdda.html Sarah's Endorsement: The UPA Cartoon "Rooty Toot Toot" https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/the-70th-anniversary-of-rooty-toot-toot/ The documentary on the animation company UPA https://www.cartoonbrew.com/documentary-2/animation-mavericks-the-forgotten-story-of-upa-documentary-258284.html The book "Bird by Bird", by Anne Lamott https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/97395/bird-by-bird-by-anne-lamott/ Susan's Endorsement: See the Backstreet Boys at the Sphere, in Las Vegas Oren's Endorsement: @stuffaboutadvertising on Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natasha Kermani talks about casting Sophie Turner in her latest film “The Dreadful” https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30842022/ and it’s amazing how she connected with Sophie and demonstrated why this project was a great fit for her trajectory as an actor. But when Matt and Oren dig into the details of the one thing Natasha said in her letter that sealed the deal, they get a big surprise. This is a great episode that explores Natasha’s love for the details, discovering Cornwall, and finding the right combinations of textures, imagery and dialect to tell this story. With Kit Harington and Marcia Gay Harden also on board, this was a film that had to deliver. And Natasha shot it in just 18 days. Finding the right connection with a DP to make such a tight schedule work, without having to panic, can be tricky. And Natasha talks about how she never threw out the shotlist, but always stayed committed to rewriting each day, to keep the creative work intact with the vision. From specialized dialects developed just for this film, to finding locations to which she specifically wrote scenes of the film, it’s an amazing story of an auteur at work. And through all of this she brought her daughter into the world, and you get to see her on the pod! This is the episode that shows great work can be done while raising a family in LA. Yes, you too can find the time to make family and work as a filmmaker a lifestyle! Find Natasha on IG @natakerm --- Help our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPod Matt's Endorsement: Italian Paperclips from Dell'era Giuseppe https://www.delleragiuseppe.com/en/stationery/paper-clips/ Oren's Endorsement: Get a DIT who will upload to iCloud as you go without waiting til the end of the shoot. Natasha's Endorsement: KUSC classical radio https://www.kusc.org/ and just listening t o the radio in general. Chuck Kinnane's Endorsement from last time: Riehle's Select Popcorn https://www.selectpopcorn.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chuck Kinnane joins directly from Little Compton, Rhode Island. And he comes out straight on sharing the credit and pay from their latest feature, “Solo Mio”, starring Kevin James. The Kinnane brothers have been living the dream as filmmakers. And they’re proof that years of work with YouTube videos, closed caption documentaries, and just making shorts, writing scripts and pitching ideas, can and does pay off, even today. It’s the story of Chuck, who started by just shooting his first films at 10 years old. Then he was fortunate enough to share tastes, aspirations, and the willingness to tough it out, suck up your ego, and collaborate all in the name of what is best for the creative work product. It just so happened he didn’t have to go to film school to find his 7 partners and lifelong collaborators. Through luck, doing the work, and getting the work out there, the Kinnane brothers met Kevin James, became his co-creator, and then found themselves making an Adam Sandler picture along the way. This is a fabulous interview. If you like listening to humble, grateful people share the story of how success found them, you won’t want to miss this episode! Find them on IG: @kinnanebrothers --- Help Matts' film: https://wefunder.com/badfeeling Help our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPod Matt's Endorsement: Sound Guy on YouTube https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFH3phl5yd1WWTwZyLbn1tcCo0k-gB8BY&si=0PMQnRpXrarngzLV. Top Seedz Crackers. https://topseedz.com/collections/crackers Oren's Endorsement: Trader Joe's Buffalo Ranch Popcorn. https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/buffalo-ranch-popcorn-080927 Grok AI for video https://grokvideo.ai/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Producer Jonathan Burns https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanaburns talks about his methods for selecting the vibe that he presents to brands and agencies. And the different considerations that drive his every choice from kraft, to restaurants, crew decisions, and more. Matt and Oren have worked with Jonathan on multiple occasions. And they talk about what separates a production manager who’s graduated “in title” to producer, from a producer who really can be more than a better production coordinator, and box checker. It’s being good at being client-facing. And as an expert, Jonathan has gained a lot of knowledge about ways in which directors lose clients. And there are some missteps you’ll want to avoid. How can you be compromising and easy to work with, and still be a commercial director that gets asked back? Should you do animatics, and does anyone care? What does it mean to stand up for your vision and not be a pain in the a** director? If you’ve been dying for some mentorship as a commercial director, you won’t want to miss this episode! Connect with Jonathan on IG: @jburnsfilm --- Help Matts' film: https://wefunder.com/badfeeling Help our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPod Matt's Endorsement: Klizia 97 Stapler https://www.amazon.com/s?srs=20289756011&rh=p_89%3AEllepi Oren's Endorsement: GQ Jordan Nutrition's recipe on Instagram for a power bar. After the Hunt VFX breakdown. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3faJNPWE9Q Jonathan's Endorsement: Lemon Posset recipe on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@s_johnson_voiceovers/video/7377164596550896939?lang=en Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How important is Sundance to your career as a commercial director? Matt and Oren talk about their experiences in Park City before the festival wraps up its last year in Utah. With Matt working to raise money for his latest film, “Bad Feeling”, there’s a lively discussion about whether making narrative films can advance your career as a commercial director. And the answer is, for some directors, it can make you stand out. But for others, there’s a better way. Then Oren talks about his latest experience shooting outside Los Angeles. And Matt and Oren talk about how to handle the shoot schedule your AD creates. And they raise some good points about what to watch for when shooting out of order. Especially when working with athletes. For example, in LA, actors and crews will help you manage issues related to continuity that have more to do with than just “was this there in the last scene”. It’s Oscar time, Sundance season, and the festival circuit is just kicking off! And if you’re looking to stay present in your work and while forging your career path forward, this is a great episode to help keep you grounded as the year gets rolling! Help Matts' film: wefunder.com/badfeeling --- Help our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPod Matt's Endorsement: The films "Marty Supreme" and "Hamnet". And also Jacobi Jupe's performance in the title role, Hamnet. Oren's Endorsement: The show "Wonder Man" on Disney+. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Sergio Cilli https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1826186/ made his first AI film, it really didn’t get noticed. And neither did many others he made. Sure they were good. But what got noticed more was the one video he made, which showed why AI isn’t quite and why it’s not yet the monster filmmakers fear. Sergio joins Kristyna Archer https://www.archer.vision/ to talk about making AI films. What works, what doesn’t, and how filmmakers can be ready for what comes next. Matt and Oren dive into how much it costs, where commercial budgets might be headed, and how AI will be adopted into filmmaking and commercials. And Sergio and Kristyna bring two different perspectives. Kristyna is an Adobe Firefly, an AI ambassador for Adobe, and has a background working with LED volume walls, Unreal Engine, and generally skews to the tech side of things. Sergio came from fear. It was only after his wife encouraged him to experiment that he discovered his desire to explore AI and filmmaking. This is a conversation about AI that tackles the elephant in the room from a variety of perspectives from working commercial directors. And it’s not just talk, it’s commercial directors who’ve actually explored the tools and put out some stuff – that if it wasn’t impressive, it could cast a shadow on their directing careers. Or as Oren’s friend likes to say, it tackles the “elephant that AI’nt in the room”. See Sergio’s AI Audition video at https://youtu.be/AEbqJj2hIjg And find Sergio and Kristyna on Instagram @sergiocilli and @archerstudioooooo --- Help our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPod Matt's Endorsement: MoldQuestVHS on Instagram @moldquestvhs Oren's Endorsement: The Pitt on HBO and the video "Beat Any Escape Room- 10 proven tricks and tips" from Mark Rober https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwgaTYOx0RI Sergio's Endorsement: "Extraordinary Things to Cutout and Collage", the book. https://www.mariarivans.com/extraordinary-things-to-cut-out-and-collage and Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee https://us.foursigmatic.com/products/original-mushroom-coffee Kristyna's Endorsement: The Wonder App has a great community of artists, producers, conversation and more, https://app.wonderstudios.com/ And also the Endel App https://endel.io/ for people with ADHD. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eric Crepeau https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4145859 joins Matt and Oren after a gap of over 400 episodes to talk about sound design! What makes a good sound designer? And what makes a great sound designer? Eric is the OG Editor of "Just Shoot It!" and he's brought along a reel of outtakes that he's kept over the years! And he's dying to talk about 10 useful words when talking to sound designer. And to kick it off Matt and Oren have a deep discussion about having coffee. Yeah, that LA tradition of meeting up for java, jo, latte, or matcha It's such a time old favorite that it's become. well, mundane. Sure people still do it and real deals get one. But can you still use it to make connections and find work? Well Matt and Oren have the answers. And you'll want to hear what makes a coffee invite worth taking. So if you're looking to get 2026 off to a quick start with some new possibilities for work and connections, this is an episode you have got to hear. --- Help our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPod Matt's Endorsement: The Battery Daddy https://www.batterydaddy.com/ . The Away Travel Suitcase and Backpack https://www.awaytravel.com/ Oren's Endorsement: The super long oner on Extraction 2 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12263384 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt and Oren are pulling together their year-end recap posts for social media. And they realize, “wow, there's a lot to reflect upon!” LA is definitely enjoying a resurgence, of sorts. And while more productions are shooting in LA, a lot has changed over the past few years. And everything isn’t rosy. So if you’re wondering what’s the right type of year-end social media recap, or what you should post that will win over the right people, then you won’t want to miss this episode! Matt and Oren have some diverging opinions Like what you ask? Well…sure, it's cool to show your working and always on set. But if you only celebrate your own wins, are you being tone-deaf to the struggle it takes to get those opportunities? And what are some ways to make it more human? Matt and Oren look at it this way. You have to post something intriguing so people who can hire you have you top of mind when the right gig comes. But what should you focus on? Tagging people? The best of your best? Family? Something else? Finally, with the industry in its December-January slow-period, Matt’s been thinking about setting goals and starting new habits. And Oren shares why this time of the year is ideal for some deep internal probing. --- Help our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPod Matt's Endorsement: 1. Moviemaker magazine. 2. Do puzzles Oren's Endorsement: 1. Apple Podcasts now has 1.8x speed. 2. CineFix has a show on YouTueb My Best Shots. The Edgar Wright one is great. https://youtu.be/8u_kCQiZd7Y?si=-2O_zmNdTdbDDEgY 3. Airpods have ruined socializing, so try unplugging and see what happens. 4. The TV Show Pluribus on Apple TV. Episode 5 has insanely good cinematorgraphy. 5. "The Everything Big Book of Jokes" book for kids. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20362426-the-everything-big-book-of-jokes 6. Move time-killer apps to a place on your phone where they are hard to find. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 2025 year-end Director's Panel is here! Each year, Matt and Oren have a little cocktail party with some of the past year's guests. It's a chance to reconnect and chat about what went well, what didn't, and what they're hopeful for in the coming year. Carlyn Hudson, Jamaal Parham, and Mercedes Bryce Morgan participate in this first-ever, on-camera, live-to-tape panel. And if you've got questions about the impact of AI on Hollywood and the impact of how movies are getting funded on A-list talent, then this is an episode you won't want to miss! Bringing together directors who have attended TIFF, worked with Matthew McConaughey, have films on Hulu, travel the globe, and know how to utilize the JOBS Act to fund films yields a diverse range of topics. And this crew talks about the need to do more with less, finding time to be creative, and further pushing the boundary of what's possible in an 8-hour shoot day. And yeah, AI is a big subject on everyone's minds. But is it really a threat? Or are we all whale hunters nearing extinction? There's a lot of hope and ideas in this episode. Happy New Year, everyone! Find Mercedes on IG @mercedesbrycemorgan or https://www.mercedesmorganfilm.com/ Find Carlyn on IG @carlynhudson Find Jamaal on IG @jamaalparham and @jamsandbash --- Help our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPod Matt's Endorsement: Fire extinguishers. AND, the fire department. Oren's Endorsement: Download everything from your phone related to your work projects, weekly () or on some fixed schedule) so you can find it later. Also, James Cameron's interview on "The Town" podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/part-1-james-cameron-on-avatar-misconceptions-ais-skynet/id1612131897?i=1000738091636 Mercedes's Endorsement: Photoshop's Remove Tool (currently in Photoshop Beta version) Kind of like Harmonize.ai (which adds shadows and reflections when you add objects to photos) Carlyn's Endorsement; Send words of affirmation to people you appreciate. Jamaal's Endorsement: Akari Sauna with 2 locations in Brooklyn, NY, Greenpoint and Williamsburg https://www.akarisauna.com/. And use saunas as your time to develop creative ideas. Also the book "The Genius of the System: Hollywood Filmmaking in the Studio Era" by Thomas Schatz https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780805046663/thegeniusofthesystem/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bella Gonzales https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7543234/ brings a ton of insight about being a cinematographer on series like Pen 15, Fargo, Alien: Earth, and The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox. It’s a really inspiring episode that made Oren want to pick up a camera and operate again. On the other hand, Bella is a self-described lighting-focused DP (Director of Photography). And her conversation with Matt and Oren details how her approach to cinematography enhances, and perhaps even creates, the world of the show more so than an operator-focused DP. Bella also gets into the playbook for Fargo and the rules of the road that create its uniquely offbeat look. And Bella lays out how this makes audiences feel more like they are inside the story. You won’t want to miss this unique episode with a cinematographer who passionately explains the techniques she uses in the art of her craft. Find Bella on Instagram @bellagonzalesdp --- Help our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPod Matt's Endorsement: Ethan Hawke on social media Oren's Endorsement: a400 round base monopod https://www.ifootagegear.com/products/monopod-a400-roundbase Bella's Endorsement: "The Duellists", movie by Ridley Scott https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075968 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tony Yacenda https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2829241/ , the director from "Chad Powers", "Dave", "American Vandal", and a ton of commercials, joins Oren and Matt. And in this episode, Tony gives us a look into how he jumped like four levels to get his first big break on American Vandal. Then Matt and Oren get Tony to share what it means to rebalance how you think about your role and what makes you an effective team player. Why? Because what you think is right can be a lot different on a show with higher network exposure and increased performance pressure. Wanna sneak-peak? Have the confidence to do your role really well, and care less about how it impacts other people's jobs. Without being an a**hole. Finally, the three share strategies for being an artist who takes every note, without robotically being a yes-man and without sacrificing the cohesiveness of your creative vision. It's a great episode that may flip how you think about directing. And it just may help you skip levels in your career as a director. Find Tony on Instagram @tyacenda --- Help our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPod Matt's Endorsement: "Paddington 2", the movie https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4468740/ , Flavacol, flavoring for popcorn, and Wonder Boom bluetooth speaker https://www.ultimateears.com/en-us/shop/p/wonderboom-4 Oren's Endorsement: Genius Scan pdf scanning app https://help.geniusscan.com/ Also Premiere Pro has a one-click tool to object mask, in the Beta app. Tony's Endorsment: "Going Dutch", the TV show on FOX. And watch it TV-TV, cable or antenna. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Commercial director NEDA joins Matt and Oren in their first-ever interview from Eastern Europe! NEDA talks about how she gets unique shots, even when working with kids. She shares how she balances freestyle with agency needs and discovers techniques to capture real moments where the kids are being real, and not pretending or acting. Then Matt and Oren get her to explore what type of director can pull off a one-name brand, like NEDA. And the three explore what happens when your career reaches a point where it seems you get asked too often to do what you’re known for. It sounds like a good problem to have, but it can reach an extreme that limits your ability to expand your reel and grow as a creator. You won’t want to miss this episode about getting unique shots, building your unique style, and having the freedom to keep updating your style as you grow your tastes and stay relevant to today’s trends and audiences. You can find NEDA on IG @minka_jones --- Help our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPod Matt's Endorsement: "Noir-vember", the film-noir watch-commitment for November Oren's Endorsement: GifSki https://gif.ski/ gif maker NEDA's Endorsement: "Twin Peaks", the original David Lynch TV series Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Simon Cellan Jones https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0148116 shares the story of his rise from the mailroom at BBC to become a director on "The Diplomat", "See", "Ballers", and "The Expanse". Then Matt and Oren get Simon to share some tips for working with star talent, like Mark Wahlberg, on his latest film "Family Plan 2". What's the difference between how Mark comes to set compared to Jason Momoa? And what are the factors that go into deciding whether to use a Podcar or a process trailer? The guys get into a lot more, and you can't miss this episode. The three wrap up with a chat about the gritty, cutting-edge films that came out of the 1970s. And they ask the question on everyone's mind: Will we soon see a new renaissance in cutting-edge filmmaking in the next year or two? Find out in this week's episode! Find Simon on Instagram @simon.cellanjones --- Help our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPod Come to our event! RSVP at https://events.justshootitpod.com/ Dec 10, 2025 at 7:00 PM Lawless Brewing Co. 5275 Craner Avenue Los Angeles, CA 91601 Matt's Endorsement: Use a warming tray / chafing dish and make hosting parties easier. Oren's Endorsement: "Task" on HBO. "I Love LA" on HBO. And the Robinhood Gold Credit Card Simon's Endorsement: Plant crocuses; yellow is great! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben Semanoff https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1032608/ shares how he made the break from camera operator to director. Lots of people want to do the same and you might be one of them. So you'll want to hear Ben tell you the one simple question too many people forget to ask. Matt and Oren also get Ben to open up about what makes a camera operator stand out. And the three talk about how Ben found himself in the unique position of being an irreplaceable crew member. And why that was a critical step to directing on Ozark, Stanger Things, and his newest show, Black Rabbit as well as long working relationship with Jason Bateman. You won't want to miss Ben's thoughts on why you need to always bring ideas to set, what it means to shoot the show in prep, and how to decide where to put the lens. Find Ben on Instagram @bsemanoff --- Help our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPod Matt's Endorsement: The streaming service Peacock, because they feature Universal's old monster movies. Oren's Endorsement: Actors, in your auditions, be sure to perform an action that brings to life the location and fits the character you're auditioning for. Maybe even add yourself a line before the scene starts. Ben's Endorsement: Logitech G-Series Fits self-shaping, custom fit earbuds https://www.logitechg.com/en-sg/products/gaming-audio/fits-true-wireless-gaming-earbuds.985-001188.html And the book, "An Actor's Companion: Tools for the Working Actor" by Seth Barrish https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/169498881-an-actor-s-companion Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jonah Feingold https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3783212/ talks about connecting with your parasocial audience to create the films you want to make. And he shares why he got in front of the camera in his latest film, "31 Candles." Matt and Oren get Jonah to talk about filming in New York and how a living city creates one-off opportunities that plus your scene. And the three chat about product placement and the real benefit filmmakers can get from YouTube. You can connect with Jonah at jonahfeingold.nyc and on IG: @jonahfeingold --- Help our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPod Matt's Endorsement: "They Came Together" w/ Amy Kohler and Paul Rudd https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2398249/ Oren's Endorsement: whisper.ai voice to text https://whisperai.com/ Jonah's Endorsement: "Broadcast News" https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092699/ . And do a silent take when on set. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will Bridges https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2782297/ shares his method for making every meeting an opportunity. And he explains what he did that let him come from 10 years of working random jobs and trying to make shorts here and there, to becoming the newly discovered talent, suddenly writing for hit series like “Black Mirror” and “Stranger Things” as well as being a co-creator with Charlie Brooker. Matt and Oren get Will to open up about what he learned from "Shaun of the Dead" and how those filmmakers pitched. And they break down the process of showing decision-makers a concept and the steps needed to get them to truly understand what it will look like, feel like, and clearly see the audiences it will resonate with. If you're looking for ideas to improve how you direct actors, you too will get a lot from this episode. And Will goes into the secret of freeing up established actors to do their best work. And he's got some warnings about key mistakes many directors often make --- Help our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPod Matt's Endorsement: "Paprika" https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0851578 Oren's Endorsement: Mike Birbiglia's "Working It Out" podcast https://www.podpage.com/mike-birbiglias-working-it-out/ and Za'atar spice https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Za'atar Will's Endorsement: "Tumor", the graphic novel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tumor_%28comics%29 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt and Oren celebrate 500 episodes! That's basically one episode per week without dropping a beat, not even on Thanksgivings, since 2015. And while it's true "Just Shoot It" has changed a lot over the years. So too has the film & TV industry. It all started with a focus on auteur filmmaking. But the podcast took a definite shift towards commercial directing over the years. And while both Matt and Oren have successful careers and get paid to actually do what they love doing, neither broke out in a way that made them lose touch with what it really means to make it in the film and TV industry. Through the ups and the downs, both for the industry as a whole and for their individual careers, they've ridden the same rollercoaster as you. Matt talks about some dark times and how he made it through. And Oren and Matt both exchange techniques and ways of thinking that they picked up over the years to help them succeed faster. In the end, they wrote their own rules instead of waiting to "suddenly be discovered". Sure, luck was involved, but in a lot of ways, they learned to help luck take root. It's a real up-close look at where Matt and Oren are today in their careers, a look back at how they got there, and some introspection about what they might have done different. You can't miss this episode if you're looking to find tips and tricks to make it in film or TV in 2025 and beyond. --- Help our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPod Matt's Endorsement: Molegirl aka "Tunnel Girl" on TikTok https://www.fastcompany.com/91299852/tiktoks-tunnel-girl-is-digging-again-much-to-the-internets-delight https://www.tiktok.com/@engineer.everything?lang=en Oren's Endorsement: Adobe's Firefly Boards https://www.adobe.com/products/firefly/features/moodboard.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seth Worley https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2124394/ made money selling tools for filmmakers. And Matt and Oren get him to talk about ways filmmakers can make side-income today. Can filmmakers make money selling plug-ins and stock footage? And if so, how? But why make side-income as a filmmaker or working commercial director? Simply put: AI. And the guys get into a broader discussion how AI will change video and the impact AI will have in an already saturated marketplace of creatives. And they wrestle with tough questions like, what kind directors won't be replaced by AI? Like a lot of filmmakers, Seth's real passion is making good work. And he gets into his 9-year journey to complete his latest film, "Sketch". Did it change his life completely? The short answer is no. But you'll want to hear how making his feature film transformed how he worked from Nashville as a commercial director. This is the VFX episode you won't want to miss. And you’ll hear some great tips for making a Spielberg-reminiscent, Amblin-inspired movie for today's audiences. Find Seth on IG @thesethworley --- Help our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPod Matt's Endorsement: Evan Monsma's YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@EvanMonsma Oren's Endorsement: "Why You Should Shoot It Twice" from Frameset https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSrlQdtuLi0 The latest episode from the podcast "Lonely Island and Seth Meyers " https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/laser-cats-5/id1738121304?i=1000732778308 Edgar Wright on "Smartless" podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/edgar-wright/id1521578868?i=1000731238799 Seth's Endorsement: Sho Pizza Bar https://www.shopizzabar.com/ The album "Getting Killed" by the band Geese. https://geesebandnyc.bandcamp.com/album/getting-killed The soundtrack from "It Follows" https://music.apple.com/us/album/it-follows-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-deluxe/1842890406 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you define your voice as a director? John-Michael Powell https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3119508/ talks about his new film "Violent Ends" https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6902560 and the career journey that brought it to theaters. When the entire faculty of his art college told him to give up on becoming an artist, John-Michael moved to Los Angeles. He landed his first job at Bunim-Murray Productions, spending nights watching VHS tapes of "The Real World" and transcribing every line of dialogue onto scraps of paper. By day, he lived in a garage in the Valley off the 405 and close to the edge of moving back home. The better he became at editing TV segments with paper scraps thumb-tacked to a corkboard, the faster he spiraled towards mastering useless skills and boring stories about the way things were. But John-Michael had a knack for finding building blocks in any situation. Even alone, the work fueled him. But he still didn't yet know why that mattered to him. Soon things started taking shape: a Sundance award, editing a documentary on the Boston Marathon bombers, learning comedic timing from legend Jerry Zucker, and eventually an Emmy. Suddenly, he began seeing how the trajectory he was on, was nothing he imagined growing up in Arkansas. Listen as John-Michael shares about his career. Why Arkansas is a big part. And how it's all about constant discovery. You're really going to enjoy seeing and feeling why he’s in love with building his voice as a director and uncovering the secrets that await. Find him on Instagram: @johnmichael_powell --- Help our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPod Matt's Endorsement: The cookbook "Let's Party", by Dan Pelosi https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/dan-pelosi/lets-party/9781454956785/ Oren's Endorsement: An interview with David Zucker on the podcast "How I Write: Hollywood Director Explains The 15 Rules of Comedy" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/david-zucker-hollywood-director-explains-the-15-rules/id1700171470?i=1000715428218 John Michael's Endorsement: "A Dictionary of Color Combinations", by Sanzo Wada https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Color-Combinations-Various/dp/4861522471 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.