Hey everyone, we are taking a break from recording new episodes in April to think through what Season 2 will look like, work on finding new guests, improving our Youtube recording experience as well as focusing on improving the overall experience and marketing of the podcast. 

Not to mention that all of us are super busy with our various other film projects:) Keep an eye out for the next episode to come out sometime in May!

Thanks to everyone for the support for Season 1 and we are excited to launch Season 2 here soon!

This podcast is sponsored by the MO Film Office (https://mofilm.org) and Shock City Studios (www.shockcitystudios.com) and is brought to you by Speak Up Productions (www.speakupproductions.com) and the In Motion team (www.inmotionconference.com)

Music by Courtney Orlando Peebles of So Hot Productions (https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-jr-peebles-05a2a19/)

This episode is full of the business info you need if you want to raise money for films and make money from your films. Jessica, Michael and Dan sit down with Cole Payne at Shock City Studios to learn about his journey from dropping out of college in MO, to learning the ropes of producing in LA and then his journey back home to start to produce a different kind of film. Cole get super transparent sharing actual numbers and the truth about financing and making money from your films.

Hailing from Russellville, MO, Cole Payne has been involved with financing and producing over 20 feature films with more on the way. 3 films he produced premiered at Sundance Film Festival.  His company is called Traverse Media and in 2020 Payne launched genre label Traverse Terror to develop, produce and sell clever low budget horror films, currently released are the films YOU DIE, MONSTROUS, THE RETREAT and DAWN OF THE BEAST with more coming soon.

A few links to things mentioned in this episode:

Traverse Media's Website

Cole's IMDB

Shock City Studios 

Hollywood Reporter & Variety 

Film in MO 

Cannes Film Fest

Berlinale 

AFM

Film Hub - self-distribution platform 

Indie film hustle podcast/Alex Ferrari

Filmtreprenuer book

This podcast is sponsored by the MO Film Office (https://mofilm.org) and Shock City Studios (www.shockcitystudios.com) and is brought to you by Speak Up Productions (www.speakupproductions.com) and the In Motion team (www.inmotionconference.com)

Music by Courtney Orlando Peebles of So Hot Productions (https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-jr-peebles-05a2a19/)

Today's interview is with Marlana Hope, a TV writer and producer who has worked on shows like Grey's Anatomy, Friday Night Lights, Army Wives and more. Michael & Dan sit down to learn about her journey as a TV writer, what it's like to be in a writers room, the importance of relationships and the difference between an agent and manager. This is a great episode for those that want to write for TV but also just for anyone trying to navigate their next steps in the industry. 

Marlana was born in Illinois, survived five years as a little girl in a log cabin in rural Pennsylvania and spent her tween and teen years on a horse ranch in Missouri. For St. Louisans, she went to Eureka High School. After obtaining a BFA in Theatre from the University of Illinois, she swore off inclement weather for good and headed west. 

 Early in her career, Marlana worked on DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS and SOUTHLAND. Her writing and producing credits include GREY’S ANATOMY, ARMY WIVES, THE KICKS, REAPER, and SKAM AUSTIN. Marlana has two pilots currently in development. She was a part of the MO Stories program as both a writer and mentor. 

 In her free time, Marlana mentors military veterans as part of the Writers Guild Foundation’s workshop series, and has traveled to Abu Dhabi, UAE to teach episodic writing workshops for emerging filmmakers in the Arab World. She also serves on the Writers Education Committee where she organized the WGA Writers Salon for three years bringing together hundreds of Guild members with top showrunners for a series of break-out sessions.

A few things mentioned in this episode:

Marlana Hope (IMDB)
IG: @marlanahope
MO Stories Scripwriting Fellowship
Save the Cat - Screenwriting book
The Screenwriters Bible - Screenwriting book

This podcast is sponsored by the MO Film Office (https://mofilm.org) and Shock City Studios (www.shockcitystudios.com) and is brought to you by Speak Up Productions (www.speakupproductions.com) and the In Motion team (www.inmotionconference.com)

Music by Courtney Orlando Peebles of So Hot Productions (https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-jr-peebles-05a2a19/)

This episode was a lot of fun. Dan & Michael sit down with Nathan Karimi and David Christopher Pitt, the two 'tell like it is' filmmakers behind the upcoming feature length film, Oscar.Tango. Hellwater.

Oscar. Tango. Hellwater.  is a horror re-imagining of William Shakespeare's Othello. This film was shot almost entirely in Blackwater, MO.  Nathan Karimi (Writer/Director) and  David Christopher Pitt (DP/Editor/Colorist) give us all the behind the scenes details from Nathan getting fired from his job as a teacher for writing scripts on the job to some horrors stories of development hell from other projects. We learn about their decision to take matters in their own hands with Oscar.Tango. Hellwater.

In this episode, we talk budgets, scriptwriting, directors fighting for their ideas, visual style, and so much more. Just a word of warning, there is some cursing in this episode. A few links to things mentioned in the episode:

Oscar. Tango. Hellwater - Teaser
Oscar. Tango. Hellwater - IMDB Page
Script to Screen & Everything in Between - Youtube Channel
Gung Ho Jungle - their production company
David Christopher Pitt -  Vimeo page
David Christopher Pitt - IG Page
Wildlife Command Center - Movie Animals
Start Up Podcast - mentioned in episode

This podcast is sponsored by the MO Film Office (https://mofilm.org) and Shock City Studios (www.shockcitystudios.com) and is brought to you by Speak Up Productions (www.speakupproductions.com) and the In Motion team (www.inmotionconference.com)

Music by Courtney Orlando Peebles of So Hot Productions (https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-jr-peebles-05a2a19/)

In today's episode, we interview Tim Breitbach, the director of the Final 19 which was just released on Amazon on Feb 5th by Buffalo 8. The Final 19 is the true story of Sgt. Daniel Hefel (and the director's cousin) who was one of the final 19 prisoners of war to come home from Vietnam. A small-town kid that enlisted, he was an infantry grunt in the 101st Airborne unit. They veered into the A Shau Valley without alerting the base camp, crashed into the mountainside, and the NVA captured Hefel and his co-pilot. He spent a total of 1,143 days in captivity.

We talk to Tim about how his career started with a Sundance award winning script and film, what it was like to attend the Sundance lab and the festival and then his journey from being represented in LA to moving back to the Midwest to be near family. Back in the Midwest, he helped launch Coolfire Originals known for a number of breakout reality TV hits including Sweetie Pies and Fast N'Loud. From there, we talk about going out on his own to start Optimal Entertainment and the journey he went on the create the documentary the Final 19. Tim has a lot of experience and knowledge to share. Enjoy!

A few things mentioned in the podcast:

Final 19 on Amazon
Sundance Writer Lab
Sundance Film Festival
Dopamine (Tim's film that premiered at Sundance and was in the Lab)
Coolfire Studios  ()Where Tim produced a number of reality TV shows)
Kansas City named top cities for filmmakers
KC Film Office
Optimal Entertainment FB page (Tim's new business)
Julien-Dubuque Film Fest (Where Tim's film received standing ovation and sold out screenings)
Buffalo 8 (Tim's distribution company)

This podcast is sponsored by the MO Film Office (https://mofilm.org) and Shock City Studios (www.shockcitystudios.com) and is brought to you by Speak Up Productions (www.speakupproductions.com) and the In Motion team (www.inmotionconference.com)

Music by Courtney Orlando Peebles of So Hot Productions (https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-jr-peebles-05a2a19/)

This is part 2 of our interview with filmmaker Josh Guffey. Go back and listen to episode 8 if you missed it.

Josh is the director of the new film All Gone Wrong starring Tony Todd who is famous for being the Candyman. The film releases on all platforms on January 27th and is being distributed by Buffalo 8.

In part 2, we talk more about the behind the scenes element of the film, budget and the distribution process. We talk about the camera he used, the size of his team, the festival premiere and what conversations with distributors looked like.

A few links mentioned in the podcast (chronological):

All Gone Wrong - Josh's films website
Josh Guffey's Director website
Cinema St. Louis
St. Louis Intl. Film Fest (SLIFF)
Buffalo 8

This podcast is sponsored by the MO Film Office (https://mofilm.org) and Shock City Studios (www.shockcitystudios.com) and is brought to you by Speak Up Productions (www.speakupproductions.com) and the In Motion team (www.inmotionconference.com)

Music by Courtney Orlando Peebles of So Hot Productions (https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-jr-peebles-05a2a19/)

So we did something a little different in this interview, we ended up interviewing director Josh Guffey for nearly 2 hours and split this into a 2 parter. Josh is the director of the new film All Gone Wrong starring Tony Todd who is famous for being the Candyman. The film releases on all platforms on January 27th and is being distributed by Buffalo 8.

Dan, Jessica and Michael chat with Josh about his journey in the film industry, the ups and downs of having a job in video production, what brought him back from LA to the Midwest and the importance of Work-Life balance when married with kids.

In this episode, we also do a deep dive into what it is like working with a named actor as a first-time feature director. We talk a lot about the role of a director including telling a client "No" and how important good casting is to relieve the pressure for a director.  In the next episode, we dive into some more of the technical aspects of the film, budget, distribution, etc.

A few links mentioned in the podcast (chronological):

Vidzu - production company Josh used to work for
48 Hr Film Project - Worldwide competition where filmmakers have 48hrs to make a film
All Gone Wrong - Josh's films website
Josh Guffey's Director website
Joni Tackette Casting - Casting director mentioned for All Gone Wrong
Jaan Marion - Junkie J actor (from St. Louis originally, based in ATL now)
Antonio St. James - STL Actor (Anthony Haron, Chris' fellow officer)

This podcast is sponsored by the MO Film Office (https://mofilm.org) and Shock City Studios (www.shockcitystudios.com) and is brought to you by Speak Up Productions (www.speakupproductions.com) and the In Motion team (www.inmotionconference.com)

Music by Courtney Orlando Peebles of So Hot Productions (https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-jr-peebles-05a2a19/)

To end the year, we decided to do something a little different. We don't have a guest this episode. Instead, Jessica, Michael and Dan are discussing the 15 ways to make money in this industry. Our mission is here is to help filmmakers succeed from anywhere, and to do so, you gotta make money and a lot of times you need to have multiple streams of income to keep doing this.

We had a lot of fun doing this one, but also hopefully brought up at least one (if not several) opportunities you haven't considered yet! Here are a few links for things we referenced in the episode:

Blackbox (stock footage site)
VLAA (discounted legal services for St. Louis area filmmakers)
St. Louis International Film Festival 
Protect Yourself from Predatory Film Distributors/Aggregators
MAC, RAC, MHC (Grant orgs in MO/STL but similar orgs exist in other states)
Kanopy - Educational Streaming Platform
The Video Project - Dan's Educational Distributor
Heartland Film Festival - Festival gives largest filmmakers cash prizes
The Film Collaborative - Helps secure screening fees for major festival films
Parris Properties (Dan & his wife Sara's Airbnbs)
Speak Up Productions (Dan's documentaries & other projects)
Michael D Francis Presents (Michael's TV packaging company)
Under the Tree Designs (everything Jessica Ambuehl is involved in)

This podcast is sponsored by the MO Film Office (https://mofilm.org) and Shock City Studios (www.shockcitystudios.com) and is brought to you by Speak Up Productions (www.speakupproductions.com) and the In Motion team (www.inmotionconference.com)

Music by Courtney Orlando Peebles of So Hot Productions (https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-jr-peebles-05a2a19/)

In this episode, we speak with phenom filmmaker, David Kirkman. David's newest film Underneath just premiered at St. Louis International Film Festival and was nominated for an award. We learn about the making of this film and David's next steps, but we also dig into his personal life and where he started out. David, though he swears no one will ever see it, made his first feature in High School and has gone on to make several other major projects (including a few more features) and he's not even 30 years old . His film Static Shock went viral online both domestically and internationally. 

We talk about his slate of films, his tips and tricks for marketing and building a fan base and how he is able to create such production value with small crews and conservative budgets. You will surely leave this episode inspired.  

You can learn more about David at https://www.instagram.com/davidkirkmanfilms.

This podcast is sponsored by the MO Film Office (https://mofilm.org) and Shock City Studios (www.shockcitystudios.com) and is brought to you by Speak Up Productions (www.speakupproductions.com) and the In Motion team (www.inmotionconference.com)

Music by Courtney Orlando Peebles of So Hot Productions (https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-jr-peebles-05a2a19/)

In this episode,  we are doing something a little different. We wanted to give you a sneak peak at what the In Motion Conference in 2019 was like. We are planning to do another In Motion Conference in late Fall 2023 (one year from now) and so we thought this would help get folks excited about attending and even getting involved in planning. If you are interested in potentially helping out, you can reach us at [email protected]. 

This was one of our first breakouts from the 2019 In Motion Conference and it was called “How to take your work to the next level” and was all focused on production quality. The panelists were cinematographer Alvaro Aro, sound mixer Justin Fisher, visual effects artist Josh Johnson, and editor/filmmaker Brittney Butler. It was all moderated by our podcast’s co-host Jessica Ambuehl who also helped produce the entire conference. It will start out with moderated questions and ends with Q&A. Enjoy!

This podcast is sponsored by the MO Film Office (https://mofilm.org) and Shock City Studios (www.shockcitystudios.com) and is brought to you by Speak Up Productions (www.speakupproductions.com) and the In Motion team (www.inmotionconference.com)

Music by Courtney Orlando Peebles of So Hot Productions (https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-jr-peebles-05a2a19/)