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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

75:26

How a Film Score Actually Gets Made (Step by Step) &...

The No Film School Podcast ·

2026/01/01

This episode of the No Film School Podcast features two deep and distinct conversations. First, host GG Hawkins reunites with filmmaker Pete Ohs, who returns to share the unique distribution experiment he’s launching with four films releasing throughout 2026. He reflects on his “table of bubbles” filmmaking philosophy and his desire to find joy instead of stress in the release process. Later, GG is joined by composer Hollie Buhagiar, whose original score for GG’s debut feature I Really Love My

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65:29

Your Movie Is Out In The World. Now What?

The No Film School Podcast ·

2025/12/27

In this episode, the tables are turned as No Film School host GG Hawkins becomes the interviewee, speaking with No Film School founder Ryan Koo about the journey of releasing her micro-budget feature I Really Love My Husband. The episode dives into the emotional, logistical, and marketing challenges of putting an independent film into the world after festival premieres and securing distribution. GG shares the lessons she’s learned, the unexpected hurdles she’s faced, and the importance of personal

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43:33

How 'The Plague' Perfected the Horror of Growing Up

The No Film School Podcast ·

2025/12/24

Host GG Hawkins sits down with filmmaker Charlie Polinger to unpack the making of his debut feature, The Plague. Polinger discusses his transition from theater to film, the personal childhood memories that shaped the story, and how embracing chaos—rather than controlling it—became central to his directing process. From casting an electrifying ensemble of young actors to shaping dread through sound design and editing, the conversation explores how specificity, vulnerability, and trust can turn a

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58:17

One Lens, One Vision: The Cinematography of 'The...

The No Film School Podcast ·

2025/12/21

In this episode, host Charles Haine sits down with cinematographer Oren Soffer to dive deep into the groundbreaking and much-discussed visual style of The Creator. As the co-DP alongside Greig Fraser, Soffer shares how they achieved the film’s unique aesthetic using a prosumer Sony FX3 camera, a single vintage lens, and a minimalist, indie-inspired production model. This discussion covers everything from lighting choices and VFX collaboration to gear workflows and lens testing, offering an in-depth

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53:25

How Earning an Actor’s Trust as a Director Can Drive...

The No Film School Podcast ·

2025/12/18

Allan Ungar started directing features at just 23 and has since evolved into a filmmaker known for his action-comedy chops and ability to elicit career-best performances from his actors. In this episode, he sits down with No Film School host, GG Hawkins, to discuss how his approach has matured from rigid control to meaningful collaboration, why psychological insight is essential for directors, and how to create an environment where actors can thrive. From early experiments with camcorders to

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42:18

From Book to Big Screen: Rebecca Sonnenshine’s...

The No Film School Podcast ·

2025/12/12

Rebecca Sonnenshine, writer and producer of The Housemaid and The Boys, joins the No Film School Podcast to unpack her journey from film school to genre television, and how she approaches adapting novels into screenplays. She shares how she got her start, how she discovered her voice in genre, and the intense pitch process behind landing The Housemaid. Rebecca also offers practical advice for writing contained stories, building a compelling script from source material, and creating work that

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67:28

David Zaslav Will Make Nearly $1 Billion From Selling...

The No Film School Podcast ·

2025/12/10

In this episode, No Film School founder Ryan Koo and host GG Hawkins, along with producer and guest Ana Liza Muravina, dig into the ramifications of the news that Netflix is bidding (or may be outbid by Paramount) to acquire Warner Brothers — and what this massive consolidation could mean for the future of theatrical film, streaming, and the livelihoods of filmmakers.In this episode, No Film School's Ryan Koo, GG Hawkins, and guest Ana Liza Muravina discuss... How theatrical attendance has

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50:54

Authenticity as Craft: DP Gayle Ye on Filmmaking...

The No Film School Podcast ·

2025/12/05

EP871: Authenticity as Craft – DP Gayle Ye on Filmmaking Beyond LabelsIn this episode, cinematographer Gayle Ye joins host GG Hawkins for an intimate and wide-ranging conversation about artistry, identity, and what it means to lead with authenticity as a DP. Gayle, who recently won a Canadian Screen Award for Paying For It and Late Bloomer, breaks down their creative process, from building visual language to managing crew dynamics. As the youngest and first queer, gender-fluid person of color to

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42:08

Documenting the Business of Fear: Inside HBO’s...

The No Film School Podcast ·

2025/11/21

GG Hawkins speaks with directors Jessica Dimmock and Zackary Canepari about their haunting and thought-provoking HBO documentary Thoughts & Prayers. The film offers a chillingly observational look at the normalization of school shootings in America—not by focusing on the tragedies themselves, but by examining the surreal, billion-dollar industry of “school safety” that's risen in their aftermath. Through restrained cinematography and a surprisingly dark sense of humor, Dimmock and Canepari capture

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94:42

You’re Picture Locked. Now What? (Plus...

The No Film School Podcast ·

2025/11/14

In this episode of the No Film School podcast, GG Hawkins and Ryan Koo dig into the often‑murky world of film release strategy and distribution from multiple angles—and then sit down with acclaimed filmmaker Ruben Fleischer to trace his path from indie start to big‑budget studio productions.In this episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins, Ryan Koo, and guest Ruben Fleischer discuss… GG’s journey with her micro‑budget feature I Really Love My Husband: festival strategy, light theatrical run, and

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51:09

How We Are Reclaiming Development

The No Film School Podcast ·

2025/11/13

The current state of Hollywood script development is chaotic, to say the least—but what if there were a way to reclaim it for writers? In this episode, guest host Charles Haine returns to No Film School to speak with Brian Austin and Scott Foster, the creators behind ScriptHop and the newly launched The Gauntlet. They dive into how the traditional process of script discovery has broken down and explore how the Gauntlet offers a transformative path forward—one that empowers writers with meaningful

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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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875 results

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