Greenlit

Mark Gill joins us for an in-depth conversation about the world of independent and studio producing, outlining his career trajectory along the way. Starting out as a journalist, Mark quickly pivoted to publicity, a job which put him in touch with the film industry. Soon, Mark was working for influential companies such as MGM, United Artists, and Miramax. Working in various roles on films such as Pulp Fiction,The English Patient, Law Abiding Citizen, Olympus has Fallen, and Unhinged, Mark steadily climbed the ladder from marketing to producing, eventually starting his own string of companies and never looking back.

Mark and Matthew talk about the importance of adaptability, the power of theatrical releases, and the most important skills Mark has carried with him throughout his career: storytelling and organized thinking.

Jack Binder joins us to discuss independent and studio producing, two fields which he has operated in for several decades with great success. Jack speaks to working with his brother – comedian, writer, director, and actor Mike Binder – as well as working on several solo projects. He discusses the importance of being a good collaborator, as well as producing both internationally and domestically. 

Producing films such as Reign Over Me and First Reformed, Jack has a knack for identifying strong stories which studios often overlook. In this episode, Jack and Matthew discuss the process of producing different films, the creative relationship with his brother, and his career over the years.

Rob Barnum joins us to discuss independent producing, his collaboration with writer and director J.C. Chandor, the challenges of producing at all levels, and how the world of independent producing has changed post-streaming. Barnum has produced many films over the years, successfully navigating the ever changing landscape of independent film, making such films as All is Lost and Margin Call. Chatting with Matthew, Rob reflects on these changes and what it means for producers, independent projects, and the industry as a whole.

Barnum’s projects with Bondit Media Capital include On The Line, Ida Red, Body Brokers, Night Hunter, and The Con Is On.

Bobby Goldstein joins us for a hilarious, quick-witted conversation surrounding the creation and production of his now infamous show Cheaters, which ran for twenty-one seasons and continues to live on through syndication. His do-it-yourself attitude and extensive business savvy makes for an extremely informative episode on producing independent television. His secret: “work like prayer won’t help, and pray like work won’t help.” 

Bobby is currently working on creating a feature film adaptation about the development of Cheaters, a comedic tale of how a grassroots producer created a legendary television show.

Bill Mechanic is one of the most successful studio executives of all time, and has been instrumental in the development, production, and distribution of some of the most influential films of the 20th and 21st century. Now CEO and Chairman of Pandemonium Films, Bill and Matthew discuss his storybook career, from the glory days at Paramount, to the building of Disney, to becoming the CEO and Chairman of Fox Filmed Entertainment, where the studio would earn seventy-two Oscar nominations in six years under his leadership. 

Involved in films such as Footloose, Top Gun, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Independence Day, Braveheart, Romeo and Juliet, Moulin Rouge, Titanic, and Fight Club, Bill shares countless stories from the viewpoints of both a business executive and a producer.

Joe Lewis joins us for a highly informational conversation surrounding Joe’s career, his approach to independent producing, and how he got his start by understanding the current state of the industry while simultaneously looking towards the future. Earning his first credit helping create Comedy Central’s Tosh.O, Joe would go on to produce Transparent, Fleabag, Mozart in the Jungle, and 100 Foot Wave. 

Joe and Matthew discuss the benefits of independent producing, the importance of confidence, and the manifestations of his various award-winning projects.

Jeff Sackman joins us on the podcast exuding an air of calm. His keep-it-cool attitude is what made Jeff successful as a producer of American Psycho (2000) and the other 96 movies he’s made over his career. Preaching a gospel of “cutting through,” which he describes as having the smarts to compete without big studio capital, his former company Think Films afforded Ryan Gosling an Oscar nomination and led to the inception of A24. In this episode, Jeff talks about the biggest disappointment of his career, being a serial entrepreneur, and why doing projects differently goes further than throwing money at them. 

Jeff’s collaborations with BondIt and Buffalo 8 include the Buffalo 8 Post-Production and BondIt financed and Executive Produced film Becky (2020) as well as the BondIt financed and Executive Produced film Social Animals (2018).

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Today on the podcast we have another legendary industry veteran, producer, and manager: Craig Baumgarten (@craig_baumgarten). Craig’s story makes Hollywood dreams seem possible. He moved to Hollywood because of a “feeling” and met superstars like Richard Gere by hosting parties at a fancy house he was crashing at. Though jobless at the time, he climbed his way to an executive role at Paramount, and went on to produce classic films like Hook (1991) with Robin Williams and Shattered Glass (2003). In this episode of the podcast, Craig talks about working with Speilberg, getting fired at an abandoned nuclear power plant, and what it’s like to file a lawsuit against some of the most notorious giants in the entertainment business.

Craig’s collaborations with BondIt include the Buffalo 8 Post Production and BondIt financed and Executive Produced film Castle Falls (2021). 

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Kris Rey (@kriseykrisrey) is known for her improv-heavy, run-and-gun indie films that have established her as one of the most unique modern filmmakers to watch today. Brought up in the state of Illinois, Rey began her career studying documentary filmmaking, which gave her an eye for naturalistic performances and grounded narratives that now saturate her films. In this episode, she breaks down her inspiration for creating her upcoming feature I Used to Go Here; the effect of COVID-19 on releasing her film that was set to debut at SXSW; the unexpected benefits to not living in LA or NY as a filmmaker; and more!

Kris’s collaborations with BondIt and Buffalo 8 include the Buffalo 8 Post Production and BondIt financed and Executive Produced film I Used to Go Here (2020). 

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David Dalsmalchian (@dastmalchian) is a triple threat – writer, actor and producer, appearing in independent films and major blockbuster hits alike. This quality makes him the perfect actor for films like The Dark Night (2008), Ant Man (2015) and Prisoners (2015) where he plays disquieting yet distinctive characters. However, success was not easy. His persistent persona, which brought Animals (2013) to SXSW, comes from pulling himself up by the bootstraps after battling his heroin addiction. In this episode, David gets real about finding success after addiction, what it is like to make a successful indie film SXSW-ready film, and his non-linear path as an actor.

David’s collaborations with Buffalo 8 include the Buffalo 8 Post-Production and Produced film Teacher (2019). 

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