This is episode 32 in the second season of The Directors Take Podcast.
In this week’s episode your hosts Marcus Anthony Thomas and Oz Arshad are joined by the Director of the National Film & Television School, Dr. Jon Wardle. In this episode we demystify exactly what the NFTS is to give you all of the information necessary to understand how it can fit into your pathway into the industry.
This episode covers:
-What is the NFTS?
-What is the NFTS’ mission statement?
-Is the NFTS the only way for someone to get into the industry nowadays?
-What are the challenges faced by those attending and graduates?
-The responsibility they have in an ever shifting industry.
-We discuss listener questions and recent controversies.
Our wonderful sponsor for this episode is THE NATIONAL FILM and TELEVISION SCHOOL.
We’ve also partnered with SCRIPTATION to offer our listeners an EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT on their software, which you can find on the link below…
http://scriptation.com/thedirectorstake
Nugget of the week
Jon: The World of Tim Burton at The Design Museum
Marcus: Steve McQueen interviewed by Danny Leigh | BFI London Film Festival Screen Talk 2024
Credits
Socials
Jon Wardle: Twitter (X)
The Directors’ Take: Twitter (X) & Instagram
Marcus: Twitter (X) & Instagram
Oz: Twitter (X) & Instagram
If you have any questions relating to the episode or have topics you would like covering in future releases, reach out to us at TheDirectorsTake@Outlook.com
2024 is coming to a close, which means it’s time for us to look back at another incredible year of movies and rank our 10 favorites. From Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Two” to Coralie Fargeat’s “The Substance” and Brady Corbet’s “The Brutalist,” it has been a banner year. In today’s episode, each host will reveal their personal top 10 favorite films of the year, all adding up to ReelBlend’s official top 5.
This is our last full episode of the year, but stay tuned. Next week, we have two more great interviews coming your way, including Halina Reijn discussing “Babygirl” and Bill Skarsgård and Willem Dafoe discussing “Nosferatu.”
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- ReelBlend – @ReelBlend
- Sean – @Sean_OConnell
- Jake – @JakesTakes
- Kevin – @KevinMcCarthyTV
- Gabe – @gabeKovacs
Timestamps (approx. only)
- 00:00 – Intro
- 6:02 – #10
- 14:50 – #9
- 20:46 – #8
- 25:08 – #7
- 26:00 – #6
- 34:48 – #5
- 42:14 – #4
- 50:04 – #3
- 1:03:21 – #2
- 1:14:57 – #1
- 1:23:27 – ReelBlend’s Top 5 Movies Of The Year
- 1:26:19 – Outro
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Many of the biggest AI models have been trained on film and TV dialogue, and writers are furious. John and Craig explore the legal, ethical and philosophical implications of this revelation, our emotional reactions to it, and offer strategies for picking the right hills to die on.
But first, we follow up on the definition of horror vs. thriller, generational narcissism, and young people’s ambition. We also answer listener questions on when to bail on a script and how to approach your first contract.
In our bonus segment for premium members, we dig into the philosophical implications of Craig believing we live in a simulation, and whether that necessarily implies a creator. Woah, man.
Links:
- Flightplan (and The Lady Vanishes)
- There’s No Longer Any Doubt That Hollywood Writing Is Powering AI by Alex Reisner for The Atlantic
- Vince Gilligan Statement on AI to USCO
- Lunchables
- The Serenity Prayer
- Jon Batiste hears Green Day for the First Time
- Tini’s Mac and Cheese on TikTok
- Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!
- Check out the Inneresting Newsletter
- Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription!
- Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram
- John August on BlueSky, Threads, Instagram, and Mastodon
- Outro by Nick Moore (send us yours!)
- Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli.
Email us at ask@johnaugust.com
You can download the episode here.
How can you give your film a big budget look, on a tiny budget?
Matt and Oren chat with G. G. Hawkins about her latest feature, “I Really Love My Husband” and all the ways she gave it a premium look without spending a lot of money. G. G. started her career on the corporate side of monetizing podcasts. And she shares what she learned about pitching and how that helped fund her films. You can find her on Instagram at @lostingraceland [https://www.instagram.com/lostingraceland/](https://www.instagram.com/lostingraceland/)
G.G.’s Endorsements: Notion calendar and project management app [https://www.notion.com/](https://www.notion.com/)
Matt’s Endorsement: Afterplug 2-Pocket Adhesive Pouch for Laptop
Oren’s Endorsements: Ways to be helpful, when acquaintances ask you to introduce them to people you work with.
You have a limited offer you can use now, that gets you up to 48% off
your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code
SHOOTIT at checkout
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Podcast Description: The Ultimate Guide to International Film Sales
In this episode, we break down the ultimate guide to international film sales! 🎥 Whether you’re a seasoned filmmaker or just starting out, this episode is packed with actionable tips to get your movie noticed by sales agents and distributors around the world.
We cover:
✅ The top three global film markets: AFM, EFM, and Cannes
✅ How to research and pitch to sales agents effectively
✅ The importance of timing your film’s completion for the right market
✅ What makes a project viable: stars, marketable genres, and high-quality production
✅ Insider advice on building partnerships with distributors
Plus, learn why being professional, enthusiastic, and easy to work with can make or break your success in the global film business. Tune in now to take your film to the international stage!
🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe for more filmmaking and distribution insights.
#Podcast #FilmSales #IndependentFilm #FilmDistribution #AFM #CannesFilmFestival #EFM #Filmmaking
Elric, Brian, Phil and Jackie are back to talk about the movies playing at the New Beverly in January 2025 – including a Universal Film Noir Weekend, a pair of fun food movies, a couple wild precodes, some brand new movies and more!
Check out all things New Beverly here: https://thenewbev.com/
If You Enjoy the show, You can help support us at Pure Cinema by going to: https://www.patreon.com/purecinemapod
Brian’s Directed By shirts can be found here: https://www.teepublic.com/user/filmmakershirts
The show is now on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/purecinemapod.bsky.social
As are Brian: https://bsky.app/profile/bobfreelander.bsky.social
Elric: https://bsky.app/profile/elrickane.bsky.social
and the New Beverly: https://bsky.app/profile/newbeverly.bsky.social
This isn’t a topic that gets talked about enough, but it is important and something we think needs to be a regular part of conversations when it comes to working in film.
Professionalism matters, and part of that is things like flirting on set. When is it ok? What if everyone just wants to “have fun”? In this quick hitter, Koura goes over when to be flirty, actually, and a few other tips for general professionalism and mutual respect on set.
If you have any questions or comments for Koura or any of team, please reach out to us at filmmakingactually@gmail.com.
If you’re passionate about creating meaningful films and want to connect with like-minded filmmakers, check out patreon.com/space_dream_productions.
For as little as $1.99 a month, you can join our community and stay updated on the latest projects from Koura and the Space Dream team.
Make sure to tune in for this and every episode, and we’re excited to share more of what we have in store for you on Filmmaking (Actually). Don’t forget to subscribe and turn on notifications for future episodes!
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/filmmaking-actually/support
In this episode of the VIFF Podcast, Short Forum programmer Casey Wei interviews filmmaker Deborah Devyn Chaung about her short film Strawberry Shortcake, a genre-defying Freudian fantasy that explores a teenage girl’s relationship with her mother.
Chuang shares the deeply personal inspirations behind the film and the challenges of directing intimate scenes. Plus, they discuss the film’s intricate set design, the symbolism of “strawberry shortcake” as both innocent and provocative, and Chuang’s aspirations to develop the short into a feature.
This episode was recorded during the 2024 Vancouver International Film Festival.
This podcast is brought to you by the Vancouver International Film Festival.
Presented on the traditional and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) nations.
In this episode Ryan chats it up with fellow filmmmaker KELLY SCHWARZE about his amazing book “What Film Schools Don’t Tell You” and his amazing approach to making Micro Budget Feature films.
Guest: Kelly Schwarze (Film Director / Producer) Instagram: @directorkelly
Host: Ryan Little (Film Director / Cinematographer) Instagram: @ryanlittle_director
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 123 from October 2017 with filmmaker, podcaster and all around indie film guru, Noam Kroll. I thought Noam was a good match for James because they both focus on filmmaking (in one form or another) to pay the bills and I can see James sitting where Noam is with three features under his belt in a few years. 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! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952
It’s that time of year again and we are serving up a heaping plate of 2024 Megabanter! The Paramount–Skydance merger finally lands, streamers and legacy studios duke it out for sports rights, Bob Iger makes his moves while the Disney board ramps up its succession race, and linear television continues to decline — what’s the story of the year? Banter buddies Lucas Shaw and Matt Belloni join Kim Masters to figure it out.
Check out our video essay channels on YouTube:
Thomas Flight: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThomasFlight
Like Stories of Old: https://youtube.com/c/LikeStoriesofOld
Or on Nebula:
Thomas Flight: https://nebula.app/thomasflight
Like Stories of Old: https://nebula.app/lsoo
Follow us:
Tom van der Linden https://twitter.com/Tom_LSOO
Thomas Flight https://twitter.com/thomasflight
About this episode:
Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
LOOK OUT! It’s only Films To Be Buried With!
Join your host Brett Goldstein as he talks life, death, love and the universe with the fascinating and awesome writer, playwright and producer JACK THORNE!
Jack is one of the most busy behind-the-scenes folks in the business, having worked on or generated so many of the great projects out there in the wide world. He’s also someone who you don’t always hear from, so this is a rare treat to get inside the mind of someone who doesn’t often chat openly about all things writing and production… Hear about all things including intimidating projects, a non wifi work ethic, the chasm of despair, setting the tone, sad times in Luton, Barry Norman, autism and the TV Access Project, the Whoopi defence and depressing things on Channel 4! So much. ENJOY!
Video and extra audio available on Brett’s Patreon!
SUPERBOB (Brett’s 2015 feature film)
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SEASON 2 – EPISODE 120 – Pinar Demirdag – Co-Founder & CEO of Cuebric
In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we wade into the world of artificial intelligence through a conversation with Pinar Demirdag, the co-founder and CEO of Cuberic, a generative AI platform. What follows is a lively discussion about the future possibilities of AI in filmmaking, its current applications in cinema today, and all the ethical and practical questions these changes raise. Pinar also explains what it is that Cuebric actually does, and we discuss the potential ramifications of the proliferation of generative AI tools to filmmakers around the world. Throughout the episode, we reflect on being products of the times we live in and lived through, and Pinar shares to what end she sees artificial intelligence developing. We also reflect on the pace of innovation in the seemingly fast-growing field, and, at the end, we learn which Stanley Kubrick film ultimately inspired the name of her company.
–
This episode is sponsored by Aputure
In this episode, we talk about
- Navigating the industry.
- Film Inspiration
- “Work Life Balance”
Director of Photography: Jammario Washington
https://www.instagram.com/itzme_mario/
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7470561/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamarrio-plair-washington-724b8a78/
Thank you for listening: Please let me know what you learned or thought of the show today. Subscribe to the podcast.
In this episode, I am joined by filmmaker Shannon E. Brown, here to discuss her latest short film Overnights – inspired by her real life experience in the veterinary industry, and the burnout that it caused.
Shannon combined her background in the veterinary world, improv comedy, and horror sensibilities to create a deeply personal, uniquely stylized short film. Throughout the interview, we discuss:
- The parallels between comedy and horror genres in filmmaking
- Producing the film in two days in a borrowed dental office
- Working with Little Shop of Gore for practical effects
- Writing from real experiences in the veterinary industry
- Strategic approaches to film festival submissions
- Experiences at notable genre festivals like Panic Fest
- Working with comedy performers in dramatic roles
- Much more!
Links from the show:
Overnights – Short Film
Shannon E. Brown – Instagram
Shannon E. Brown – Website
Sign up for my newsletter for exclusive filmmaking insight each Sunday.
How does art change the way we see and experience the world? Art has the power to offer transformative experiences, but what about the lives of artists who give so much of themselves? How can we balance creativity and personal well-being while still making work that is true and meaningful?
David Rubin (President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences 2019-2022 · Casting Director) discusses the importance of fostering an international presence for the Motion Picture Academy. He highlights how inviting filmmakers from around the world has enriched the community and emphasizes the power of collaboration in the filmmaking industry.
Later, he reflects on his journey in casting, the challenges younger people face in finding their niche, and the importance of patience and open-mindedness in discovering one’s career path. Rubin highlights how negative experiences can also be valuable learning points.
Jericho Brown (Pulitzer Prize-winning Poet: The Tradition · Editor of How We Do It: Black Writers on Craft, Practice, and Skill) shares his process of writing poetry, emphasizing the element of discovery and the unexpected directions a poem can take. He shares his advice to young poets, how they should aim to create original works that could become lasting cultural touchstones.
Julian Lennon (Singer-songwriter · Documentary Filmmaker · Founder of The White Feather Foundation · Photographer/Author of Life’s Fragile Moments) reflects on the emotional highs and lows experienced by creatives. He discusses the significance of finding balance and happiness through artistic and charitable expression.
Sam Levy (Award-winning Cinematographer of Lady Bird · Frances Ha · While We’re Young) explores the art of cinematography. Levy underscores the importance of intention in every scene, whether it’s to highlight a character’s emotions or to convey the unspoken elements of the story.
Julia F. Christensen (Neuroscientist – Author of The Pathway To Flow: The New Science of Harnessing Creativity to Heal and Unwind the Body & Mind) discusses transformative experiences through art and literature. She explains how aesthetic emotions can lead to profound changes in perception and understanding, drawing from both personal and scientific insights.
To hear more from each guest, listen to their full interviews.
Instagram:@creativeprocesspodcast
A huge treat for me this week on the podcast as we sit down with cinematographer Shane Hurlbut ASC with a plan to talk about his latest work on the series The Perfect Couple.
I got slightly side tracked and we ended up chatting about his experience as an educator in the space, how cinematography has evolved over the last 10 years and a whole lot more.
Shane has had a huge impact on cinematography and it was awesome to have a chance to pick his brain on where things are going next. Hopefully we can have him back on in the future to dive deeper in to his narrative work.
Enjoy!
Featured Guest – Shane Hurlbut ASC
Website: Shane Hurlbut ASC
Instagram: @shanehurlbutasc
The post The Wandering DP Podcast: Episode #465 – Shane Hurlbut ASC appeared first on Cinematography Podcast & Tutorials.
Today, we’re heading in our proverbial Popemobile to Rome, with the BAFTA Award-winning writer of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Men Who Stare At Goats and more. Peter Straughan's latest film, Conclave, directed by Edward Berger, is essentially Succession at the Vatican – a masterful, muted thriller about the election of a new head of the Roman Catholic Church. It tells the story of Cardinal Lawrence, played by Ralph Fiennes, who's been tasked by the late Pope with overseeing the selection of his replacement. Surrounded by powerful religious leaders in the halls of the Vatican, he soon uncovers a trail of deep secrets that could shake the very foundation of the Roman Catholic Church.
There are more twists and turns in this film than the ruthless Cardinal Tedesco could shake a vape pen at – and in the spoiler conversation, we get to the bottom of each and every one of them, including the shocking revelation at Conclave’s conclusion – an ending that Peter says is both radical and at its core, deeply Christian.
Get ready to discover how the writer's own background as a lapsed Catholic helped guide his writing process. Discover whether or not Donald Trump and Joe Biden served as inspirations for certain members of this warring clergy. And find out what’s really happening as bombs explode outside the Vatican’s walls – a plot thread that we as an audience, sequestered with these cardinals, never quite see the full truth of.
Script Apart is hosted by Al Horner and produced by Kamil Dymek. Follow us on Instagram, or email us on thescriptapartpodcast@gmail.com.
Support for this episode comes from ScreenCraft, Final Draft and WeScreenplay.
To get ad-free episodes and exclusive content, join us on Patreon.
In our last episode of the year, journalists Joanna Robinson and Dave Gonzales, the authors of MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios, discuss making a living as a “pop culture pundit,” mapping the story of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the missing “DC vs Marvel” chapter, lessons the MCU might take from recent successes like Deadpool & Wolverine and Agatha All Along, what other franchises might learn from the MCU, what Kevin Feige really does, and what the MCU can teach writers.
THE WRITERS PANEL IS A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION.
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