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PODCAST

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. Support the show at: https://www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast

tv & film film interviews

All Episodes

01:09:34

Joshua Porter - The Eleven Year Journey to Feature #1!

Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie... ·

2026/07/27

This week we welcome writer/director Joshua Porter on the show to talk about the eleven year journey he went on to make his first feature film No Evidence of Man and how he finally got the film made and released! 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

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01:17:48

Lucas Kitchen - BONUS Throwback Interview!

Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie... ·

2026/07/23

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 80 WAAAAY back in August 2016 featuring writer and director Lucas Kitchen to talk about making short films for his youtube page and distributing them with distribber. Alrik thought this was a good match for our talk with Eli Shell on Monday because there is a lot of self distribution in the world of Verticals and it feels like they are both working in their own very specific niches. After that we play another round of

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01:04:14

Eli Shell - Creating Your Own Vertical Series!

Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie... ·

2026/07/20

This week we welcome writer/director/producer Eli Shell on the show to talk all things Verticals, which Eli assured me no one calls “verts”, he talks about making his first vertical series In House. 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

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00:42:28

Jane Schoenbrun - BONUS Throwback Interview!

Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie... ·

2026/07/16

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 366 from March 2025 featuring writer Director Jane Schoenbrun who talks about getting into sundance with their first feature, leading to their 2nd feature being bought by A24. I thought this was a good match for episode with Georgia Bernstein on Monday because both Jane and Georgia got their first features into Sundance and had amazing outcomes from playing the festival. After that we play another round of You’re the

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01:01:20

Georgia Bernstein - Getting Your First Feature into...

Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie... ·

2026/07/13

This week we welcome writer/director Georgia Bernstein on the show to talk about making her first feature Night Nurse, why she decided to make an erotic thriller at a retirement home and how she got the film into Sundance and 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

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00:57:15

Bryant Griffin - BONUS Throwback Interview!

Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie... ·

2026/07/09

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 519 from March 2025 featuring VFX artist turned feature director Bryant Griffin, who left his job at Lucas Arts to make his first feature film, Young King. I thought this was a great match for Anthony Lucero from Monday because he also used to work at Lucas Films and left when he made his first feature as well. After that we play another round of You’re the expert, enjoy! Don’t forget to support us on Patreon

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01:10:04

Anthony Lucero - From VFX Artist to Indie Feature...

Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie... ·

2026/07/06

This week we welcome writer/director Anthony Lucero on the show to talk about his 2nd feature Paper Bag Plan, how he got the film made and why he wrote this story and made this film. 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

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01:03:35

Roger Nygard - BONUS Throwback Interview!

Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie... ·

2026/07/03

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 363 from March 2022 featuring editor/director Roger Nygard who came on the show to talk about directing the documentary Trekkies in the late 90s and his rise as a premiere comedy editor, working on shows like Veep, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Crashing to name a few. Alrik thought that Roger was a good match for our episode with David Wain on Monday because so much comedy is in the editing so hearing from Roger made sense

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00:55:42

David Wain - From The State to Comedy Filmmaking in...

Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie... ·

2026/06/29

This week we welcome writer/director/actor and comedy mastermind David Wain on the show to talk about his latest feature Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass which he wrote with the equally great Ken Marino. David talks about how they got the movie made, his process and why even after making so many movies, shows, even doing a character on Bob’s Burgers, he still feels like he has so much more room to grow as an artist. After that we play another round of the GAME, enjoy! Don’t forget to

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00:43:34

Alice Brooks - BONUS Throwback Interview!

Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie... ·

2026/06/25

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 350 from December 2021 featuring Cinematographer Alice Brooks who talks about lensing the studio feature In the Heights among other films and how she got to where she was as a cinematographer Alrik thought this was a good match for our episode with Julia Swain from Monday because it feels like they are both on the same trajectory, just Julia is a little earlier on her journey then Alice. After that we play another round

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01:00:08

Julia Swain - From Shooting Indie Films to Studio...

Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie... ·

2026/06/22

This week we welcome cinematographer Julia Swain back on the show to talk about shooting her first Studio Feature Voicemails for Isabelle, how she got attached to the film and all about her career achievements since we last chatted! 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

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00:48:22

Naveen Chathapuram - BONUS Throwback Interview!

Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie... ·

2026/06/19

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 370 from May 2022 featuring writer/director/producer Naveen Chathap-uram talking about making his first feature The Last Victim! Alrik thought this was a good match for our episode with Joe Zentil from Monday because they both took long roads to make their first feature at really high levels. After that we play another round of You’re the expert, enjoy!Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast

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01:16:31

Joseph Zentil - Taking a Chance on Your First Feature!

Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie... ·

2026/06/15

This week we welcome writer/director/producer Joe Zentil on the show to talk about making his first feature Born to Lose, how he fell in love with motorcycles and the journey he took to get his first feature made. 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,

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01:14:50

T. Arthur Cottam - BONUS Throwback Interview!

Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie... ·

2026/06/11

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 329 from July 2021 featuring writer/director T. Arthur Cottam on the show to talk about the re-release of his film Carbunckle and how he has gone about making and funding his features. I thought this was a good match for our talk with Michael Kellman on Monday because they both wrote/directed and edited their first features. After that we play another round of You’re the expert, enjoy! Don’t forget to support us on

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01:03:53

Michael Kellman - Distributing Your First Feature in...

Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie... ·

2026/06/08

This week we welcome writer/director/editor Michael Kellman on the show to talk about making his first feature Say Less, how he got the film made and how he went about the distribution of the film. 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

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00:44:30

Lee Moss - BONUS Throwback Interview!

Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie... ·

2026/06/04

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 438 from August 2023 featuring writer and director Lee Moss to talk about their first feature Birth/Rebirth, how they got the film made at such a high level and how they are dealing with not working during the strike. 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

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00:53:37

Madison Young - Writing and Directing a First Feature...

Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie... ·

2026/06/01

This week we welcome writer/director/producer Madison Young on the show to talk about her first feature By the Roots, which she wrote based on her memoir that she wrote in 2016. Madison talks about how she developed the story into a script and raised the money to make the film. After that I talk a bit about re-writing my script Ricky and the Ooze, enjoy! Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts

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00:41:43

Julia Stiles - BONUS Throwback Interview!

Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie... ·

2026/05/28

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 516 from February 2025 with actor turned feature writer/director Julia Stiles. Julia talks about going from acting in studio features and shows to making her first feature behind the camera and the challenges she faced to pull it off. I thought this was a good match for our episode with Katie Aselton (Ace-sol_tin) from Monday because they are both actors turned filmmakers, just Katie is further along in her filmmaker

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00:52:50

Katie Aselton - Making a Movie for Yourself!

Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie... ·

2026/05/25

This week we welcome writer/director/actor Katie Aselton on the show to talk about her latest film Magic Hour which she co-wrote, directed and starred in alongside Daveed Diggs. Katie talks about why she decided to make this film and how she pulled it off. 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

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00:43:31

Nicholas Bruckman - BONUS Throwback Interview!

Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie... ·

2026/05/21

On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 333 from August 2021 featuring writer/director Nicholas Bruckman on the show to talk about making his Documentary on the late Ady Barkan, how he found his subject and what drove him to tell that story. Alrik thought Nicholas would be a good match for our chat with Loren on Monday because they are both documentary filmmakers who talk about how they made their features and connected with their subjects. After that we play

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