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PODCAST

The No Film School Podcast

A podcast about how to build a career in filmmaking. No Film School shares the latest opportunities and trends for anyone working in film and TV. We break news on cameras, lighting, and apps. We interview leaders in screenwriting, directing, cinematography, editing, and producing. And we answer your questions! We are dedicated to sharing knowledge with filmmakers around the globe, “no film school” required.

tv & film

All Episodes

59:33

Editing an American Epic: Inside 'Train Dreams' with...

The No Film School Podcast ·

2025/11/07

In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, GG Hawkins dives into the sweeping process behind Train Dreams, a period drama adapted from the Dennis Johnson novella. GG is joined by director Clint Bentley and editor Parker Laramie, who discuss the challenges and joys of crafting a film that spans decades while staying intimate and emotionally resonant. The episode also opens with a candid conversation with filmmaker Boris Rodriguez about community and collaboration in independent filmmaking,

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69:11

State of the Industry & the Art of Programming with...

The No Film School Podcast ·

2025/11/06

In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, host GG Hawkins connects with two key voices in the film-industry ecosystem. First, she chats with screenwriter and filmmaker Nicolas Curcio to take the pulse of the movie business at the close of 2025—what’s changed, what’s hopeful, and what still needs to shift. Then, GG talks with programmer and curator Imani Davis of the American Cinematheque to explore the art and mechanics of programming—from year-round curatorial work to the annual Proof Film

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77:25

Do We Even Need Reps? How 'Violent Ends' Director...

The No Film School Podcast ·

2025/10/31

Director John-Michael Powell joins No Film School to talk about his gritty Southern crime thriller Violent Ends, which hits theaters October 31. Powell shares the winding journey that led to the film’s production—from being dropped from a college art program, to cutting indie films that made it to festivals like Sundance and SXSW, to editing the Emmy-winning Netflix series American Manhunt. Remarkably, he crafted a feature starring Billy Magnussen and Alexandra Shipp—without agents, managers, or

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52:25

Why the Austin Film Festival Is #1 for Screenwriters...

The No Film School Podcast ·

2025/10/30

In this episode, No Film School founder Ryan Koo sits down with contributor and fellow Austinite Jourdan Aldredge to recap the highlights and insights from the 32nd annual Austin Film Festival. Known as "The Writers Festival," AFF has emerged as a critical space for screenwriters, writer-directors, and filmmakers to connect, learn, and showcase their work. Ryan and Jourdan discuss how the festival nurtures emerging talent, supports the craft of screenwriting, and uniquely prioritizes writers. They

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54:04

Why Netflix’s #1 Film 'The Perfect Neighbor' Is the...

The No Film School Podcast ·

2025/10/24

In this episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins and guests Geeta Gandbhir and Viridiana Lieberman dive into the making of the breakout documentary The Perfect Neighbor, which uses police body‑cam, Ring‑cam and dash‑cam footage to tell a harrowing story of a neighborhood dispute and a fatal shooting in Florida under the “stand your ground” law. The conversation focuses on how editor Lieberman navigated massive technical and emotional challenges, how director Gandbhir shaped the vision and collaboration,

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54:39

The Art of Coming Undone: Mary Bronstein on ‘If I Had...

The No Film School Podcast ·

2025/10/18

In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, GG Hawkins speaks with writer-director Mary Bronstein about her searing psychological comedy-drama If I Had Legs, I'd Kick You. The film, starring Rose Byrne, Conan O'Brien, Christian Slater, and A$AP Rocky, explores the emotional breakdown of a woman navigating a mysterious illness in her child, an absentee husband, and a dangerously dependent relationship with her therapist. Premiering at Sundance and earning Rose Byrne a Silver Bear at Berlinale, the

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49:33

Are You Up to the ‘Task’ of Directing Great TV?...

The No Film School Podcast ·

2025/10/17

No Film School founder, Ryan Koo, sits down with acclaimed director Jeremiah Zagar to explore his journey from Sundance Labs and indie documentaries to directing high-stakes prestige television. Zagar, best known for We the Animals and Hustle, shares an in-depth look at his process directing HBO’s Task—an emotionally rich, verité-style crime drama from showrunner Brad Ingelsby, starring Mark Ruffalo and Tom Pelphrey. The conversation dives deep into how Zagar’s collaborative ethos and commitment to

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66:07

Can Filmmakers Make Money by Adding a ‘Tip Jar’ to...

The No Film School Podcast ·

2025/10/10

How do you make enough money to support yourself as an independent filmmaker? It's nearly impossible. So these scrappy filmmakers tried something new.Moviegoers at this year's edition of Fantastic Fest were in for a surprise when the credits of the horror world premiere Dolly rolled: several QR codes lingered on screen. If you liked the movie, you could tip the filmmakers directly, through Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, and PayPal (those links are live in case you support the idea): In addition to the

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56:05

Breaking Taboo with Slamdance-Winning 'Chaperone'...

The No Film School Podcast ·

2025/10/09

In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, host GG Hawkins sits down with writer-director Zoe Eisenberg to discuss her provocative and powerful debut feature Chaperone, which won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Breakout Feature at Slamdance. Set in Hawaii, the film explores a taboo relationship between a woman and a teenage boy and dives deep into themes of loneliness, desire, and moral ambiguity. GG and Zoe unpack the journey from novelist to filmmaker, the unique challenges of indie production

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30:05

AI as a Tool, Not a Shortcut: Inside the Chroma Awards

The No Film School Podcast ·

2025/10/03

This episode of the No Film School Podcast takes a deep dive into the intersection of AI and creativity in filmmaking. Host GG Hawkins speaks with Matty Shimura from ElevenLabs about the upcoming Chroma Awards—an international competition that aims to spotlight ethical, intentional, and innovative uses of AI in film, music videos, and games. The conversation explores how AI is being used as a tool rather than a shortcut, the ethical complexities of its application in creative work, and how

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66:06

Shane Black’s Filmmaking Philosophy

The No Film School Podcast ·

2025/10/03

In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, host GG Hawkins sits down with legendary screenwriter and director Shane Black, known for iconic films like Lethal Weapon, The Last Boy Scout, The Nice Guys, and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. The two dive deep into Black’s creative process, his latest project Play Dirty (an adaptation of Donald Westlake's Parker novels), and how his filmmaking journey and sobriety have shaped his vision. From staying true to source material while adding his unique voice, to

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58:33

Benny Safdie on Blurring Reality and Fiction in 'The...

The No Film School Podcast ·

2025/10/02

In this episode, GG Hawkins sits down with filmmaker and actor Benny Safdie to dig into his solo directorial feature The Smashing Machine — a biopic‑adjacent portrait of UFC legend Mark Kerr starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. The conversation ranges from genesis stories and casting experiments to the heavy emotional labor behind staging domestic fights, and how Benny’s dual identity as actor-director shapes his approach to truth in film.In this episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins and guest

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64:36

Accountability, Networking, and Creative Grind with...

The No Film School Podcast ·

2025/09/27

In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, host GG Hawkins sits down with Matt Enlow and Oren Kaplan, the prolific directing duo and co-hosts of the long-running Just Shoot It podcast. With nearly 500 episodes under their belt, Matt and Oren dive deep into the realities of sustaining creative careers, the value of community, and how accountability and consistency have fueled their podcast and filmmaking journeys. They share behind-the-scenes stories, including how they met, what keeps them

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48:16

Inside Adult Animation: Creating Netflix’s 'Haunted...

The No Film School Podcast ·

2025/09/26

No Film School's GG Hawkins checks into Netflix’s brand new animated comedy, Haunted Hotel, and gets a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to create an adult animation from the ground up. She’s joined by series creator and showrunner Matt Roller (Rick and Morty), art director Robbie Erwin, and writer Avital Ash for a roundtable conversation that spans the show’s long development journey, the complexities of world-building in animation, and the creative collaboration required to bring this

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41:47

The Poetry of VFX: Building Gotham with Emmy-Winning...

The No Film School Podcast ·

2025/09/25

In this episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins, and guests Erin Sullivan and Johnny Han take listeners behind the curtain of The Penguin, exploring how a VFX team builds a gritty, immersive Gotham — from early concept to final composite. The conversation covers creative philosophy, technical workflow, tool choices, collaboration across departments, and the emotional stakes of creating visuals that feel both bold and invisible.In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins and guests Erin Sullivan and

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47:30

Why the 20th Edition of Fantastic Fest is the Most...

The No Film School Podcast ·

2025/09/23

In this episode, Ryan Koo and Jourdan Aldredge explore what makes the 20th edition of Fantastic Fest so crucial for genre and indie filmmakers. They discuss the festival’s unique energy, audience connection, and events, spotlight standout films like Shelby Oaks, Sisu: Road to Revenge, Black Phone 2, Luger, Vicious, Primate, Whistle, Coyotes, and others. The conversation culminates in a new initiative—Fantastic Pitches—marking a shift in the fest’s ecosystem from exhibiting work to helping get new

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47:19

First Love, Queer Cinema, and the Art of Collaboration

The No Film School Podcast ·

2025/09/19

GG Hawkins sits down with Carmen Emmi (director, writer) and Erik Vogt-Nilsen (editor) of Plainclothes, a striking debut feature that blends the aching vulnerability of first love with the sharp tension of queer identity under surveillance. Set in 1997 and laced with nostalgic Hi8 footage, the film isn’t just a period piece — it’s a raw, intimate time capsule of self-discovery, repression, and resilience. This episode dives deep into the emotional and creative process behind the film, from Sundance

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42:57

What You Don’t See in 'HIM': Taylor Mason on the Edit...

The No Film School Podcast ·

2025/09/18

Editor Taylor Mason returns to the No Film School Podcast to discuss her leap from indie features to her first studio film, HIM, directed by Justin Tipping. Host GG Hawkins explores how Mason's editing shaped the emotional tone, visual storytelling, and layered character dynamics of the surreal football drama. They also dive into how working on larger-scale projects differs from the indie scene, the importance of creative collaboration, and how editing can profoundly impact narrative clarity and

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47:59

How Theaters Choose What to Show: Inside Programming

The No Film School Podcast ·

2025/09/11

In this episode, GG Hawkins is joined by Shelby Schultz, Director of Programming at LOOK Cinemas. Shelby shares her insights into the complex and often misunderstood world of theatrical exhibition, from how she discovers films to what drives the decision-making process behind booking movies in theaters. Drawing from her extensive background in distribution, financing, and development, Shelby explains how indie filmmakers can better position their projects for theatrical success, the importance of

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45:42

How to Make an Indie Film with 8‑Hour Days and On‑Set...

The No Film School Podcast ·

2025/09/05

In this episode, GG Hawkins speaks with writer-director-producer Nora Fiffer about her debut feature Another Happy Day, and how she achieved a rare feat in indie filmmaking: shooting on strict eight‑hour days while providing on‑set childcare. The two explore how this family-friendly approach—driven by Fiffer's own journey into motherhood—shaped every stage of production, from scheduling and budgeting to set morale and creative decision-making.In this episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins, and guest

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864 results

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