Crew Call

This week on the show, it’s a crossover episode! Virginia Anzengruber of Super Hungry the Podcast and Chris Henry of Crew Call interview each other about moving to LA, what to do when you land here if you don’t have a job lined up, and ways to make the hustle work. But also…what about if you decide to leave Los Angeles? What then? And what about all the stuff that happens in between?

We talk about the pressures of the question “so what do you do?” and how that can affect your outlook, for better or worse. And a bunch of gems about finding work, living in a big city, how I got my legs under me and how she did the same. It’s a little slice of the hustle from two different perspectives, and I think you’re really going to like it.

This week on the show Art Director/Prop Assistant Heidi Koleto joins us for a brief discussion about what an art director is, what they do, and how she ended up doing it—and then we move into an incredibly illuminating discussion about Heidi’s experience joining IATSE Local 44, what it means to be on a show that “Flips”, and how long you might have to work before the option to join a Union becomes open to you.

And a quick announcement! Next week on the show, we’ve got a super-fun crossover with Super Hungry the Podcast! Tune in to hear Virginia Anzengruber and I discover the oddness that is a mutual interview as we talk about what it means to leave Los Angeles.

And thanks SO MUCH, as always, for listening!

You see all sorts of different versions of the title “Producer” kicking around, and it’s one of the more nebulous titles in the business. Brandon Heitkamp, producer of movies like Bad Frank and Valley of Bones, sat down with us and went through what the job of a workaday producer is, what he looks for in a script, and what he looks for in the people he hires to make his movies. If you’re curious about how to make a movie, how to get a job in film, or just what the heck a Producer’s job actually is, then this episode is 100% for you. Enjoy!

Ever hear about actor stand-ins? Think the job is as simple as “existing” and “looking like someone else”? Prepare to be corrected in a pleasant and informative way! This interview with Stand-in Clay Chamberlin will fill you in on the whole deal, and give you some truly fantastic career advice in the process.

Short. Simple. Sweet. Enjoy!

Some of us will be fortunate enough to grow our careers to the point where we’ve got *more than one* crazy-big project in the works at all times, and it’s those times that you’ll be glad you listened to this interview with Michael Price. The Co-Creator and Showrunner of Netflix’s “F is for Family” and longtime staff writer on The Simpsons talks about starting out as a workaday writer, getting up earlier than everyone else, and the finer points of managing two gigantic animated comedy projects.

(Yes, technically this isn’t a ‘below the line’ position, but Michael’s perspective is too valuable to ignore. After all, if he doesn’t write it, then there’s nothing for any of the rest of us to make!)

New to the Industry? Thinking of starting a career in entertainment? Chances are, you’re going to start as a PA. And chances are, someone like 1st AD Sushi Garciaparra is going to be your boss. Listen as we go through the basics of a day on a film set, the responsibilities of a 1st Assistant Director, and how to make sure you keep getting hired when you’re just starting out. We also talk about some of the realities of making a living when you’re a new professional in the field. Hope you like sleeping on couches!

Everyone wants to get their movie made. This interview with Matthew T Price—Director and co-writer of the indie horror thriller “Other Halves”—is your starter-guide to the whole process. If you’ve ever wondered about the considerations and costs that go into ANY film, then listen all the way through. From how to find funding, to writing to fit your location, to the naked realities of marketing your finished film, we dig through the making of Other Halves from inception to completion in this inaugural episode of Crew Call 2.0!

Crew Call is back! We’ve got a brand-new season of in-depth below-the-line interviews headed your way, and with Shortwave Radio founder and former Crew Call producer Chris Henry taking over as host, we couldn’t be more excited to be bringing this show back to the airwaves. (Internet-waves?)

For the uninitiated: Crew Call is produced now in association with the Anonymous Production Assistant, and features interviews with the people who work behind the scenes to make your favorite movies and serials happen. Each episode we’ll hear from about another position from the panoply of jobs it’s possible to have in the entertainment business. So if you’re in school, just starting out in the business, or want a Way-Behind-The-Scenes look at how the film and entertainment business works, then you’re in the right place. We’ve got you covered.