Fellowship App Hell, Strategic TV Directing Pitches, and Why Verticals Are the New Wild West On the Get Reelisms podcast, filmmakers Adam Chase Rani and Christine Chen catch up on recent festival news and Christine’s birthday, then dive into “fellowship app hell season,” comparing repeated lab applications and essay-writing to endlessly applying to colleges with no clear feedback. Christine shares she’s applying to programs including Film Independent, Sundance Producing Lab, and WriteBack Rise, and discusses the demoralizing competition, lack of guarantees, and the need to budget time by stepping back from AD work to focus on directing and stronger applications. Adam explains reframing a Disney directing program pitch from choosing a favorite show to choosing a show that logically matches evidence in his portfolio and experience. They also recap a Scene Lab focused on verticals and discuss vertical video’s growth, rising production value, democratized audience-driven discovery, and reduced gatekeeping compared to traditional Hollywood. 

Hosts: Adam Rani (@adamthechase)  & Christine Chen (@cchenmtf) 

About Christine W Chen:

Christine W. Chen is a Taiwanese American filmmaker, Academy member (Short Films Branch), and versatile producer, director, and writer known for bold, character-driven storytelling. Through her production company, Moth to Flame, she has created award-winning short films, features, and branded content—including Erzulie, a feminist swamp thriller that had a limited theatrical run and now streams on major platforms. In addition to her directorial work, Christine is a seasoned DGA 1st Assistant Director and co-author of Get Reelisms and ABCs of Filmmaking, as well as the co-host of the Get Reelisms Podcast.

For more information about Christine Chen: christinewchen.com

About Adam Rani:

Adam Chase Rani is a production designer and set dresser working in the Austin film market, bringing a sharp eye for visual storytelling and practical creativity to every project. During the pandemic, he co-founded the Get Reelisms Podcast with Christine Chen to foster community within the film industry. Together, they’ve built a platform that blends education, candid conversations, and industry insights to help filmmakers connect, learn, and grow.

WEBISODE version of the Podcast

00:00 Logic Over Emotion 

00:41 Podcast Intro Chaos 

02:20 Birthdays and Benjamin Button

 02:59 Daisy the Warrior Terrier 

05:10 Fellowship Application Hell 

07:54 Which Labs to Apply For 

10:50 Too Many Programs 

12:00 Strategic Show Selection 

17:15 Feeling Behind Outside LA 

17:59 Application Grind Mindset 

18:39 Scene Lab Workshop Recap 

20:27 AD Work Versus Directing 

21:52 Fellowship Focus Strategy 

25:07 Friends in Film Reset 

29:30 Verticals Future Trends 

35:31 Why Vertical Storytelling Wins 

38:02 Viral Post And Creator Rush 

39:56 Guest Handoff And Merch Plug

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On Get Reelisms Podcast episode 191, hosts Adam Chase Rani and Christine Chen interview filmmaker/producer/AD and occasional actor Avid (“Avi”) from Puppy Love Productions about becoming a “multi-tool” on set, especially in vertical productions. Avi recounts starting as a high-school editor on Final Cut Pro 7, continuing filmmaking while majoring in chemistry/biochemistry due to family pressure, learning directing performances through an improv-actor collaborator, and falling into first AD work via a 48-hour challenge and a Sony-financed short where a seasoned producer taught him set lingo. They discuss on-set judgment and delegation, phone rules, interns learning walkie etiquette, and how vertical storytelling uses cliffhangers, paywalls, CPI/client-driven scenes, and evolving efficiency systems. Avi also explains creating 3Line Studio, notable clients, a stolen box truck recovery using AirTags, and plugs a vertical Scene Lab event at 3Line Studio on April 29 (7–10 PM).

Hosts: Adam Rani (@adamthechase)  & Christine Chen (@cchenmtf) 

About Christine W Chen:

Christine W. Chen is a Taiwanese American filmmaker, Academy member (Short Films Branch), and versatile producer, director, and writer known for bold, character-driven storytelling. Through her production company, Moth to Flame, she has created award-winning short films, features, and branded content—including Erzulie, a feminist swamp thriller that had a limited theatrical run and now streams on major platforms. In addition to her directorial work, Christine is a seasoned DGA 1st Assistant Director and co-author of Get Reelisms and ABCs of Filmmaking, as well as the co-host of the Get Reelisms Podcast.

For more information about Christine Chen: christinewchen.com

About Adam Rani:

Adam Chase Rani is a production designer and set dresser working in the Austin film market, bringing a sharp eye for visual storytelling and practical creativity to every project. During the pandemic, he co-founded the Get Reelisms Podcast with Christine Chen to foster community within the film industry. Together, they’ve built a platform that blends education, candid conversations, and industry insights to help filmmakers connect, learn, and grow.

Guest:

Avid Eghbali was born on August 20, 1996 in Iran. He is a director and producer, known for Bated Breath, Drift (2024) and Hell Hath No Fury (2026).

WEBISODE version of the Podcast

00:00 Chem Major Film Hustle

01:01 Podcast Intro And Guest

02:16 Meeting Avi On Verticals

02:51 Multi Tool Set Mindset

06:24 Avi Acting On Set

09:06 How Avi Got Started

12:30 Learning AD Lingo Fast

14:26 Family Pressure And Legacy

20:04 First Day Jitters To Growth

22:30 Delegation And Set Judgment

29:33 Phones On Set Debate

32:55 CPI Scenes And Vertical Demands

35:32 How Verticals Are Written

38:08 Vertical Video Debate

40:06 Innovation and Naysayers

41:39 Vine Lessons and Coexistence

42:49 AI Trailers and Backlash

44:00 AI as Previs Tool

47:37 Branded Vertical Series

51:36 Three Line Studio Origins

56:58 Celebrity Shoots and Clients

59:02 Stolen Box Truck Story

01:03:38 Trump Impressions and Set Antics

01:12:44 Event Plug and Housekeeping

01:14:28 Final Goodbye

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Verticals, Unions, and AI: The Wild West of New Filmmaking | Get Reelisms Ep. 190 In episode 190 of the Get Reelisms podcast, filmmakers Adam Chase Rani and Christine Chen talk about Christine’s desert trip to see a meteor shower, her deliberate hiatus from AD work to regain creative peace, and her return to making fast, low-budget sketch comedy—especially vertical YouTube/Instagram sketches—through groups like Banana TV and a 10-episode series with her friend Myleene about friends whose hangouts always turn into film work. They discuss the rise of union and branded verticals, why creators are embracing the format as a new storytelling medium, and how to improve quality through writing and framing. The conversation covers intense vertical set workflows, block shooting and child actor restrictions, the push-pull between budgets and union standards, concerns about AI replacing art versus using AI as a logistics tool, and worries about declining literacy from students using ChatGPT. They close with GetReelisms.com plugs and tease the next guest from Puppy Love Productions. 

Hosts: Adam Rani (@adamthechase)  & Christine Chen (@cchenmtf) 

About Christine W Chen:

Christine W. Chen is a Taiwanese American filmmaker, Academy member (Short Films Branch), and versatile producer, director, and writer known for bold, character-driven storytelling. Through her production company, Moth to Flame, she has created award-winning short films, features, and branded content—including Erzulie, a feminist swamp thriller that had a limited theatrical run and now streams on major platforms. In addition to her directorial work, Christine is a seasoned DGA 1st Assistant Director and co-author of Get Reelisms and ABCs of Filmmaking, as well as the co-host of the Get Reelisms Podcast.

For more information about Christine Chen: christinewchen.com

About Adam Rani:

Adam Chase Rani is a production designer and set dresser working in the Austin film market, bringing a sharp eye for visual storytelling and practical creativity to every project. During the pandemic, he co-founded the Get Reelisms Podcast with Christine Chen to foster community within the film industry. Together, they’ve built a platform that blends education, candid conversations, and industry insights to help filmmakers connect, learn, and grow.

WEBISODE version of the Podcast

00:00 Vertical Film FOMO 

00:21 Podcast Intro Setup 

01:15 Meteor Shower Birthday 

02:49 AD Hiatus For Writing 

05:07 Back To Sketch Roots 

06:45 Friends In Film Series 

09:46 Verticals Branded Wave 

14:19 Cinematic Vertical Potential 

15:40 Vertical Set War Stories 

17:29 Block Shooting Explained 

18:49 Working With Child Actors 

20:19 Crew Set Stories 

20:55 Child Actor Rules 

21:56 Union Versus Verticals 

24:42 Knowing Your Worth 

27:16 AI In Filmmaking 

31:33 Gen Z Literacy Drop 

35:09 Read More Books 

35:57 Wrap And Plug

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On the Get Reelisms Podcast, filmmakers Madam Chase Rani and Christine Chen interview Austin director Jon Vallet about his new film American Dollhouse, which just premiered at South by Southwest and launched its festival run with an Austin “film family” crew. Vallet says the movie uses a character-driven, proto-slasher approach inspired by films like Psycho and Black Christmas, using modern anxieties about public spaces feeling unsafe and the dissonance of daily life in America as thematic fuel. He shares the logline: a woman inherits her childhood home, hoping to escape debt, but the house is falling apart and a doppelgänger-like neighbor becomes obsessively dangerous, escalating into a Christmas-set slasher. Vallet discusses prioritizing actors’ performances, early sound and scoring collaboration, shooting on Sony Venice in 4:3 with natural light and night-for-day, a 15-day December 2024 shoot, a difficult third-act set build, and adapting scripts and schedules to budget and resources.

Hosts: Adam Rani (@adamthechase)  & Christine Chen (@cchenmtf) 

About Christine W Chen:

Christine W. Chen is a Taiwanese American filmmaker, Academy member (Short Films Branch), and versatile producer, director, and writer known for bold, character-driven storytelling. Through her production company, Moth to Flame, she has created award-winning short films, features, and branded content—including Erzulie, a feminist swamp thriller that had a limited theatrical run and now streams on major platforms. In addition to her directorial work, Christine is a seasoned DGA 1st Assistant Director and co-author of Get Reelisms and ABCs of Filmmaking, as well as the co-host of the Get Reelisms Podcast.

For more information about Christine Chen: christinewchen.com

About Adam Rani:

Adam Chase Rani is a production designer and set dresser working in the Austin film market, bringing a sharp eye for visual storytelling and practical creativity to every project. During the pandemic, he co-founded the Get Reelisms Podcast with Christine Chen to foster community within the film industry. Together, they’ve built a platform that blends education, candid conversations, and industry insights to help filmmakers connect, learn, and grow.

About John Valley

John Valley became a prolific music video director in Austin TX before honing in on his debut feature The Pizzagate Massacre, a dark horror comedy that VICE called "A grindhouse Pizzagate satire that perfectly captures a moment in time." His sophomore film, American Dollhouse is a modern take on proto-slasher classics like Psycho and Black Christmas.

WEBISODE version of the Podcast

00:00 Actors First Philosophy

00:22 Podcast Intro And Guest

01:41 Origins Of American Dollhouse

04:57 Logline And Setup

06:34 What Makes A Slasher

11:24 Slasher Structure And Metaphor

15:07 Sound Design And Score

17:34 Lessons From First Film

21:21 Crew And Camera Choices

25:05 On Set Trauma And Third Act Build

29:42 Night for Day Magic

30:43 Scheduling as Storytelling

31:54 Budget as Creative Tool

34:03 Practical Effects and Big Punch

37:14 Script vs Set Reality

39:00 Directing Without Attachment

41:39 Next Projects Monster Movie

44:06 Pivoting and People First

46:58 Christmas Theme and Family Pressure

50:28 Austin Film Scene Farewell

52:41 Housekeeping and Sign Off

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Adam Chase Rani and Christine Chen celebrate reaching 188 episodes of the Get Reelisms filmmaking podcast and reflect on nearly six to seven years of documenting their careers. They discuss recent Oscars results, including a tie and Sam Davis winning after their interview, and debate why genre films like Sinners may struggle for Best Picture despite winning Best Original Screenplay, while One Battle After Another wins Best Picture and PTA earns Best Director. They talk about attention spans, frustration with people assuming indie films are “on Netflix,” and Christine’s behind-the-scenes photo from Shakespeare on the Range being featured in the Academy Museum, a milestone linked to early career growth. Christine shares her decision to pause First AD work to focus on directing, developing a sketch-based branded micro-series, and adapting to vertical content trends. Adam plugs his “Create Your Own Content” course on getreelisms.com.

Christine W. Chen is a Taiwanese American filmmaker, Academy member (Short Films Branch), and versatile producer, director, and writer known for bold, character-driven storytelling. Through her production company, Moth to Flame, she has created award-winning short films, features, and branded content—including Erzulie, a feminist swamp thriller that had a limited theatrical run and now streams on major platforms. In addition to her directorial work, Christine is a seasoned DGA 1st Assistant Director and co-author of Get Reelisms and ABCs of Filmmaking, as well as the co-host of the Get Reelisms Podcast.

For more information about Christine Chen: christinewchen.com

Adam Chase Rani is a production designer and set dresser working in the Austin film market, bringing a sharp eye for visual storytelling and practical creativity to every project. During the pandemic, he co-founded the Get Reelisms Podcast with Christine Chen to foster community within the film industry. Together, they’ve built a platform that blends education, candid conversations, and industry insights to help filmmakers connect, learn, and grow.

00:00 Movies All Day

00:22 Podcast Origins

00:54 188 Episodes In

02:03 Oscar Winner Interview

02:54 Oscars Predictions

06:15 Awards Drama Talk

07:07 Short Attention Spans

09:20 Netflix Question Rage

12:36 Academy Museum Photo

14:31 Shakespeare On The Range

18:02 OG Crew Lessons

20:16 BTS Photo Insecurities

20:56 Film History Connections

21:30 How We First Met

22:34 From Stress to Podcast

24:05 Hiatus From First AD

27:30 Friends in Film Sketches

30:29 DIY Filmmaking Revival

32:26 Vertical Video Future

35:43 Budgets and Crew Reality

38:10 Housekeeping and Farewell

WEBISODE version of the Podcast

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Sam Davis on Making Oscar-Nominated Short ‘The Singers’ Without a Script, Casting Viral Buskers, and Shooting on Film

On Get Reelisms podcast episode 187, filmmakers Adam Chase Rani and Christine Chen interview Los Angeles–based filmmaker Sam Davis, who is campaigning his live-action short The Singers, nominated for an Academy Award and streaming on Netflix. Davis traces the project back 3–3.5 years to reading a George Saunders breakdown of a Russian short story, then adapting it into a modern bar-set film starring first-time actors found on social media, which took about 18 months to cast due to scam concerns and trust-building. He describes a documentary-influenced, unscripted approach with long improvised takes, constant sound recording, layered audio, and shooting on 35mm film for intentionality, while noting the costs of film and travel. The four-day shoot faced setbacks, including a lead dropping out two days prior. Davis discusses song selection, costume strategy, collaborating with a small crew, balancing documentary and narrative work, and developing future projects, including a long-term feature documentary.

About Christine W Chen:

Christine W. Chen is a Taiwanese American filmmaker, Academy member (Short Films Branch), and versatile producer, director, and writer known for bold, character-driven storytelling. Through her production company, Moth to Flame, she has created award-winning short films, features, and branded content—including Erzulie, a feminist swamp thriller that had a limited theatrical run and now streams on major platforms. In addition to her directorial work, Christine is a seasoned DGA 1st Assistant Director and co-author of Get Reelisms and ABCs of Filmmaking, as well as the co-host of the Get Reelisms Podcast.

For more information about Christine Chen: christinewchen.com

About Adam Rani:

Adam Chase Rani is a production designer and set dresser working in the Austin film market, bringing a sharp eye for visual storytelling and practical creativity to every project. During the pandemic, he co-founded the Get Reelisms Podcast with Christine Chen to foster community within the film industry. Together, they’ve built a platform that blends education, candid conversations, and industry insights to help filmmakers connect, learn, and grow.

Guest: 

Sam Davis is an Oscar newly winning director, cinematographer, and producer known for his work on The Singers (2025), Period. End of Sentence. (2018), and Nai Nai & Wài Pó (2023). A USC School of Cinematic Arts graduate, he specializes in documentary-style narrative filmmaking, often blending digital-age casting with traditional storytelling to explore themes of community and humanity.

WEBISODE version of the Podcast

00:00 Trusting Real People

00:36 Podcast Intro

01:01 Meet Sam Davis

02:04 Origin of The Singers

02:50 Casting and Scam Fears

04:14 Campaigning Burnout

06:08 Doc Style No Script

08:56 Why Shoot on Film

10:47 Four Day Shoot Chaos

12:29 Last Minute Recast

13:56 Oscar Nomination Impact

15:33 Recording Songs Live

17:09 Mundane to Magic

19:25 Choosing and Licensing Songs

21:53 Costumes and Cohesion

24:05 Funding and Budget Realities

25:55 Small Crew Big Effort

26:28 Next Projects Pipeline

28:08 Doc vs Narrative Balance

29:33 Protecting the Moment

30:25 Directing While Shooting

32:01 Editing as Writing

34:32 Risks After Success

36:04 Building the Crew Network

36:54 Chefs Table Tangent

41:55 South by Stories

43:45 Wrap Up and Thanks

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Verticals, Hustle, and the Future of Filmmaking (Get Reelisms Ep. 186)

On Get Reelisms podcast episode 186, filmmakers Adam Chase Rani and Christine Chen discuss being exhausted but grateful for steady work while others in Austin and Texas struggle despite talk of bigger film tax incentives. They say vertical short-form productions are “single handedly saving Hollywood,” with money coming from markets including China, and Christine notes speaking Mandarin helps her communicate with clients as an AD and director. They describe overlapping AD prep across productions, constant schedule demands on rare days off, and how vertical work favors indie-style problem solvers over union workflows. They explain vertical monetization as “Farmville”-style gamification with addictive cliffhangers and paywalls per short episode, shaping soapy storytelling tropes, while also noting vertical framing can be visually strong. They mention Darren Aronofsky’s AI film "On This Day, 1776" and briefly debate AI as a tool versus making full films with it, then preview an upcoming guest, Oscar-nominated short filmmaker Sam Davis ("The Singers" on Netflix).

Hosts: Adam Rani (@adamthechase)  & Christine Chen (@cchenmtf) 

About Christine W Chen:

Christine W. Chen is a Taiwanese American filmmaker, Academy member (Short Films Branch), and versatile producer, director, and writer known for bold, character-driven storytelling. Through her production company, Moth to Flame, she has created award-winning short films, features, and branded content—including Erzulie, a feminist swamp thriller that had a limited theatrical run and now streams on major platforms. In addition to her directorial work, Christine is a seasoned DGA 1st Assistant Director and co-author of Get Reelisms and ABCs of Filmmaking, as well as the co-host of the Get Reelisms Podcast.

For more information about Christine Chen: christinewchen.com

About Adam Rani:

Adam Chase Rani is a production designer and set dresser working in the Austin film market, bringing a sharp eye for visual storytelling and practical creativity to every project. During the pandemic, he co-founded the Get Reelisms Podcast with Christine Chen to foster community within the film industry. Together, they’ve built a platform that blends education, candid conversations, and industry insights to help filmmakers connect, learn, and grow.

WEBISODE version of the Podcast

00:00 Verticals Save Hollywood

01:01 Podcast Intro and Hosts

02:08 Lunar New Year Banter

04:11 Work Drought and Incentives

05:19 Mandarin as a Career Edge

06:37 How We Met on Set

12:13 Overlapping AD Chaos

16:04 Forgot to Go Live

18:29 No Days Off Reality

20:44 Becoming the Vertical Queen

22:58 Who Excels at Verticals

24:24 Will Stories Go Vertical

25:04 David Lynch Phone Rant

26:57 Farmville Paywall Model

31:00 Soap Opera Hook Writing

33:16 Shooting Vertical Beautifully

35:53 New Tech Becomes Cinema

37:59 AI Films and Unease

41:38 Trump Impressions Detour

43:09 Housekeeping and Next Guest

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Star Flare: Reclaiming Agency, Building a Fun Set, and the Pain of Crowdfunding (Get Reelisms Ep. 185)

On Get Reelisms Podcast episode 185, hosts Adam Chase Rani and Christine Chen interview actor-writer-producer Laura Ricci about making her fantasy romance short film Star Flare. Laura describes feeling powerless as an actor and deciding to create her own work after living in Los Angeles for nearly three years, with wildfires raging and Trump newly inaugurated, leading her to write the script in a week and produce her first “real” film. They discuss designing the project around practical constraints (woods location, small cast, one day, limited costume changes) while still aiming big for the genre, and Laura’s priority of creating a safe, fun set that strengthens relationships and took care of the team. Laura calls crowdfunding the hardest part, recounting constant posting, emotional strain, and mixed results despite support and a stranger’s $1,000 pledge. Christine directed and is editing; they talk about post-production, sound design’s importance, and meeting through a TikTok call for a director.

Hosts: Adam Rani (@adamthechase)  & Christine Chen (@cchenmtf) 

About Christine W Chen:

Christine W. Chen is a Taiwanese American filmmaker, Academy member (Short Films Branch), and versatile producer, director, and writer known for bold, character-driven storytelling. Through her production company, Moth to Flame, she has created award-winning short films, features, and branded content—including Erzulie, a feminist swamp thriller that had a limited theatrical run and now streams on major platforms. In addition to her directorial work, Christine is a seasoned DGA 1st Assistant Director and co-author of Get Reelisms and ABCs of Filmmaking, as well as the co-host of the Get Reelisms Podcast.

For more information about Christine Chen: christinewchen.com

About Adam Rani:

Adam Chase Rani is a production designer and set dresser working in the Austin film market, bringing a sharp eye for visual storytelling and practical creativity to every project. During the pandemic, he co-founded the Get Reelisms Podcast with Christine Chen to foster community within the film industry. Together, they’ve built a platform that blends education, candid conversations, and industry insights to help filmmakers connect, learn, and grow.

Guest: 

Laura Ricci is a Los Angeles-based SAG-AFTRA actress known for roles in Hostess (2018), The Wraith (2021), and the upcoming Cupcakes (2025). She has also appeared in I Was There (2022) and Siren Salon (2023), often portraying characters with wit and depth. She is active on Instagram as @the.laura.ricci.

WEBISODE version of the Podcast

00:00 Feeling Powerless

00:51 Podcast Intro

01:12 Meet Laura Ricci

02:00 Audio Setup Talk

03:41 Why Make a Short

05:44 Star Flare Logline

07:43 Writing With Constraints

10:26 Making Set Fun

18:24 Collaboration Magic

22:54 Crowdfunding Struggles

26:25 Crowdfunding Reality Check

27:16 Letting Go of Perfection

28:14 Where the Film Is Now

28:48 Finding a Director on TikTok

31:50 Why Laura Didn’t Direct

34:34 Paying People Fairly

36:20 Editing Notes and Post Workflow

37:41 Sound Design Makes the Genre

38:11 Dune and Movie Theater Nerd Talk

42:23 Weapons Guy and Armor Shop Stories

44:23 Wrap Up and Housekeeping

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Get Reelisms Amazon Store

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Texas Film Industry Thrives: Incentives, Expendables, and Community Stories

In this episode of the Get Reelisms podcast, hosts Adam Chase Rani and Christine Chen welcome special guest Chris Bigbie, owner of Dependable Expendables. They discuss Texas's booming film industry, driven by recent tax incentives, and the role of local companies like Dependable Expendables in supporting productions. Chris shares the impact of high-profile projects like Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone and Lioness shooting in Texas, and explains how his company meets the unique needs of film sets with specialized products like silent paper bags. The conversation highlights the significance of the Texas Production Expo and the mutual support within the filmmaking community, showcasing how local initiatives bolster industry growth.

Hosts: Adam Rani (@adamthechase)  & Christine Chen (@cchenmtf) 

About Christine W Chen:

Christine W. Chen is a Taiwanese American filmmaker, Academy member (Short Films Branch), and versatile producer, director, and writer known for bold, character-driven storytelling. Through her production company, Moth to Flame, she has created award-winning short films, features, and branded content—including Erzulie, a feminist swamp thriller that had a limited theatrical run and now streams on major platforms. In addition to her directorial work, Christine is a seasoned DGA 1st Assistant Director and co-author of Get Reelisms and ABCs of Filmmaking, as well as the co-host of the Get Reelisms Podcast.

For more information about Christine Chen: christinewchen.com

About Adam Rani:

Adam Chase Rani is a production designer and set dresser working in the Austin film market, bringing a sharp eye for visual storytelling and practical creativity to every project. During the pandemic, he co-founded the Get Reelisms Podcast with Christine Chen to foster community within the film industry. Together, they’ve built a platform that blends education, candid conversations, and industry insights to help filmmakers connect, learn, and grow.

Guest: 

Christopher Bigbie is a Director and Creative Director with a lifelong passion for storytelling through cinema. Bringing a strong narrative sensibility and visual precision to commercials and digital content, he is known for building mood, capturing natural beauty, and shooting dynamic action with elegance and versatility. His work spans advertising and corporate campaigns for major global brands, where his ability to translate abstract ideas into compelling visual stories has become a defining strength.

WEBISODE version of the Podcast

00:00 Introduction to Taylor Sheridan's Impact

00:45 Welcome to Get Reelisms Podcast

01:24 Meet Christopher Bigbie

01:49 Texas Production Expo and Local Incentives

03:53 The Importance of Local Purchases for Incentives

11:19 Silent Bags and Solving On-Set Problems

12:07 Christopher Bigbie's Journey in Film

16:07 Dependable Expendables and Future Goals

16:42 The Birth of a Business Idea

17:41 Mentorship and Creative Education

18:43 Challenges in Early Filmmaking

19:27 Creating Get Reelisms

20:57 The Magic of Filmmaking

23:59 Texas Film Community and Incentives

28:19 Upcoming Texas Production Expo

29:03 Final Thoughts and Farewell

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The Get Reelisms Podcast Episode #183: Set Culture, Stress, and Filmmaking Trials

In this episode of the Get Reelisms Podcast, Episode 183, hosts Adam Chase Rani and Christine Chen, delve into the complexities of set culture and the emotional challenges of filmmaking. Adam shares a detailed and vulnerable recount of a stressful shoot, discussing issues such as miscommunication with the director, set design obstacles, and the overarching pressures of the industry. Christine provides insights from her similar experiences, emphasizing the frequent lack of time, money, and proper hierarchy on set. The conversation underscores the importance of managing emotions and maintaining professionalism, even in high-stress situations. This episode also features discussions about the podcast's consistency, regardless of their busy schedules in the film industry, and the industry's current state post-COVID. Towards the end, they promote merchandise deals on GetReelisms.com, especially highlighting holiday discounts and the best combo deals.

Hosts: Adam Rani (@adamthechase)   & Christine Chen (@cchenmtf) 

About Christine W Chen:

Christine W. Chen is a Taiwanese American filmmaker, Academy member (Short Films Branch), and versatile producer, director, and writer known for bold, character-driven storytelling. Through her production company, Moth to Flame, she has created award-winning short films, features, and branded content—including Erzulie, a feminist swamp thriller that had a limited theatrical run and now streams on major platforms. In addition to her directorial work, Christine is a seasoned DGA 1st Assistant Director and co-author of Get Reelisms and ABCs of Filmmaking, as well as the co-host of the Get Reelisms Podcast.

For more information about Christine Chen: christinewchen.com

About Adam Rani:

Adam Chase Rani is a production designer and set dresser working in the Austin film market, bringing a sharp eye for visual storytelling and practical creativity to every project. During the pandemic, he co-founded the Get Reelisms Podcast with Christine Chen to foster community within the film industry. Together, they’ve built a platform that blends education, candid conversations, and industry insights to help filmmakers connect, learn, and grow.

WEBISODE version of the Podcast

TIMELINE

00:00 Introduction to Set Culture

00:45 Meet the Hosts: Adam and Christine

01:19 Podcast Consistency and Industry Challenges

03:45 The Impact of COVID on the Film Industry

06:02 A Tough Year in the Art Department

06:53 A Challenging Commercial Shoot

14:05 Director's Frustration and Miscommunication

18:51 Navigating Set Culture and Emotions

20:23 Dealing with Unclear Direction

23:53 Impact on Professional Relationships

25:28 Coping with Stress and Lack of Support

26:50 Reflecting on Set Challenges

28:57 Finding Solutions and Moving Forward

36:20 Housekeeping and Promotions

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