What does cinematic mean to you? Carlyn Hudson https://www.carlynhudson.com/ joins Matt and Oren fresh off completing her latest short, "Waffle".

Is cinematic just a slick look? Is it about lighting? Or is it whatever Midjourney gives you when you ask for a cinematic style? It's always a party when these three are together, with lively discussion, interesting perspectives, and free thrown punches. And our partners in banter spar over all the different layers that make cinematic more than any one thing. And how it's different, arguably different, for different people!

It all opens into a side discussion about this summer's movies: Jurassic Park, F1, and of course Danny Boyle's "28 Years Later". What do you think about its "Trainspotting" look, jaw-dropping $75 million (no kidding) budget, and how Instagram is shaping believability. You won't want to miss this fun and thoughtful episode!

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Matt's Endorsement: Pocket Dispo Lens https://pocketdispo.com/ for your DSLR or mirrorless camera.

Oren's Endorsement: The Nintendo Switch 2, because it's fun without the addiction. Especially "Mario Odyssey". Toiletry bags with 2 zippers that double as your shower caddy. 

Carlyn's Endorsement: Support the Kerr County (Texas) Flood Relief Fund https://cftexashillcountry.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=4201

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Matt’s back from the Chattanooga Film Festival, and Oren just wrapped a whirlwind gig in Thailand. Jet lag not included. Yay!!! This week, they unpack the age-old question: is it still essential to live in L.A.? Is the cost of living worth it? And what does long-term career sustainability actually look like?

It’s an episode about experimentation and pushing boundaries. Matt tested the waters by bringing his kid to a low-key film festival. Before actually trying to juggle parenting, pitching a film, and festival revelry till the sunrises. Meanwhile, Oren pitched against some heavy-hitters to prove he’s ready to play at the next level. Oh, and a producer found Matt because - wait for it - ChatGPT said he was the perfect director for their commercial!!

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Get a great deal on Magic Mind! https://magicmind.com/shootitjune NEW LINK!! 

Matt's Endorsement: Make playlists on Spotify related to screenplays and scripts you're writing.

Oren's Endorsement: PatchTagger for saving videos by adding tags https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/patchtagger-save-videos-b/aehpdnmfpeagdgjlhehfgmgnkkpnmdof

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Matt and Oren dig into the creative choices director's make. And they kick it off by looking at the growing influence of AI on the process. 

They also tackle casting and why it’s more than just finding the “right” actor. But also, what makes for the right actor in a commercial? Comedic timing, tone, understanding the game, our grasp of something else? 

They also share how many actors they callback and put on avail. And what happens when an actor crushes the audition but doesn’t book it. Do you tell them?

You'll find some tips on how to invite creative collaboration, whether wardrobe, production design, or with your DP, in a way that encourages suggestions for plus-ing the production. But, without sounding like a film school director who doesn't know, or is too afraid, to make choices.

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Get a great deal on Magic Mind! https://magicmind.com/shootitjune NEW LINK!! 

Matt's Endorsement: If you have a Loog Guitar for kids https://loogguitars.com/, get a guitar strap. King C. Gillette Cordless Beard Trimmer https://gillette.com/en-us/products/beard-care/king-c-gillette-beard-trimmer  

Oren's Endorsement: Ira Glass on Mike Birbiglia’s podcast https://youtu.be/eIzW5RHpeFQ?si=dcJqxqKlT9c6iaAI

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The directing duo from "Don't Tell Larry" detail their eight-year journey to turn the phrase, "Don't Tell Larry", into a world, a web series, and feature starring Eg Begley., Jr., Dot-Marie Jones, Patty Guggenheim, and Kiel Kennedy. And they chat with Matt and Oren about how their background in unscripted TV prepared them but also left gaps when it came to making the movie they wanted to make, without EPs steering them off-track.

From 300 pitches to turning down lucrative investors, the pandemic, and choosing to shoot in Dallas, the guys explore all the challenges of making an indie film, and adhering to high standards, all while influencers walk away with the fees that filmmakers traditionally could garner from commercial work. And other filmmakers like, Danny Gervitz's film "The Man in the Photo" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6WpwmPe9Ks, "Skinamarink" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APQqilSTxz0 and forgoing distributors and theatrical releases, in favor of going straight to YouTube.

Tell them your thoughts on Instagram @dtlthemovie @gregporper @jschimke

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Get a great deal on Magic Mind! https://magicmind.com/shootitjune NEW LINK!!

Matt's Endorsement: "No Hard Feelings" https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15671028/

Oren's Endorsement: Eric Chien, the magician https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWO5-0OYMwc

Greg's Endorsement: The book "Day Trading Attention: How to Actually Build Brand and Sales in the New Social Media World." by Gary Vaynerchuk https://garyvaynerchuk.com/attention/

John's Endorsement: DaVinci Resolve updated their Edit page and it's wonderful. Particularly Source / Record.

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"Chimp Crazy" is HBO's top-watched documentary. But being from the team that made Tiger King is both a plus and a minus. In this episode, writer, producer, and editor Evan Wise https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2188036/ chats with Matt & Oren about the hurdles they faced and the moment he knew this doc would be good. We explore the importance of personal connection, being open to letting the story evolve during filming, and the role of editors as writers and storytellers in documentary films. Evan also discusses how they found their shadow director, why that was important to getting this doc off the ground. Connect with Evan on Instagram @deathedit

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Get a great deal on Magic Mind! https://magicmind.com/shootitapr NEW LINK!! 

Matt's Endorsement: "Mickey 17" https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12299608/

Oren's Endorsement: Trader Joe's Patio Potato Chips https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/patio-potato-chips-062977 

Evan's Endorsement: "Diamond Hands" https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17662108/

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Matt and Oren dive into the process of finding the right cinematographer or DP for your project, breaking down key factors like reputation, working methodology, artistry, specialties, reel, website, and even foreign language skills.

They also explore how budget impacts these considerations. Like what shifts when you're working with $50K versus $2 million? From personal tastes to professional appearances, this episode takes a deep dive into the nuances of hiring the right visual storyteller for your film or commercial project.

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Get a great deal on Magic Mind! https://magicmind.com/shootitapr NEW LINK!! 

Matt's Endorsement: Los Angeles Conservancy's "Last Remaining Seats", a classic vintage film screening series. See "Rope" by Director Alfred Hitchcock at the Academy Museum on original 35mm nitrate.

Oren's Endorsement: Oren shows Matt a video on "Generating Crowds with Gen 4 References" https://youtu.be/erNSx-wOuPs?si=qugAONtGmm6wQxu4. And he mentions Runway https://runwayml.com/ and Veo generative AI video tools. https://gemini.google/overview/video-generation/

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Matt and Oren break down their approach to directing on set—from working with celebrity talent like Neil Patrick Harris to navigating the challenges of directing kids. It's a glimpse into their lives as directors.

They also explore how user-generated content and influencers are changing the types of projects advertisers want to create and opening new doors for emerging filmmakers who understand the new landscape.

Plus, the guys respond to YouTube comments and discuss how listeners can join the conversation.  

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Get a great deal on Magic Mind! https://magicmind.com/shootitapr NEW LINK!! 

Matt's Endorsement: Captain Disillusion https://www.youtube.com/@CaptainDisillusion

Oren's Endorsement: 1. Oscar Owen Magic https://www.youtube.com/@Oscar 2. AMEX Delta Reserve card gives you $20 per month for using Uber. And paying for Lyft with the Chase Sapphire earns you 5x miles when traveling to and from airports.

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The skyrocketing success of "Friendship," starring Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd, is tied to its distinct visual style. Cinematographer Andy Rydzewski https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2198503 shares the recipe behind the film’s look, breaking down key choices in framing, lighting, and camera techniques.

Matt and Oren dive into the details, nerding out over f-stops, open gate, ISO, sensor breaks, and the creative decision by Andy and director Andrew DeYoung to move away from the 28mm lens.

Find Andy on Instagram @filmandy

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Matt's Endorsement: Upgrade to pro on Letterboxd https://letterboxd.com/pro/

Oren's Endorsement: 1. Use a rice cooker. 2. For Mother's Day or that special day in that special someone's life, instead of buying a gift, give them the gift of a day without having to do anything. Do the laundry, take care of the kids, and finish all the chores in their life while they can kick back and enjoy.

Andy's Endorsement: 1. Use a lap desk (kind of like a pillow with a hard top) to support your laptop while you work. 2. The Blackmagic Camera app 

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Trey Edward Shults https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4099092/ has been called a visionary film director. Matt and Oren chat with Trey about his bold leap into auteur filmmaking—what it means to claim that title and how he made it happen.

What did he learn as a nineteen-year-old loading IMAX film for Terrence Malick on the edge of a live volcano? And is going to Cannes or winning at SXSW really enough to eventually land Hollywood’s most sought-after actors for your film?

His latest film, "Hurry Up Tomorrow" (@hurryuptomorrowmovie on Instagram), opens Friday, is a collaboration with The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye), and stars Jenna Ortega.

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Matt's Endorsement: Breaking and Entering on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/company/breakingandentering/posts/?feedView=all It's basically "Everything You Need to Know in Advertising in 60 Seconds."

Oren's Endorsement: Amazing AI art that defies the horrifically bad tells of AI art. Humanly artistic and possessing a sense of authorship and voice. @voidstomper on Instagram. He has millions of followers, but hasn't figured out how to monetize it. So help him out and watch his new videos.

Trey' Endorsements: Chicken Joe's aka CJ's in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g635538-d2041184-Reviews-Chicken_Joe_s-Santa_Teresa_Province_of_Puntarenas.html

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Ever wonder how "The Studio" perfected comedic timing using oners and one-shot scenes? Eric Kissack, who edited the entire season for Seth Rogen, shares his tips, tricks, and behind-the-scenes insights into how the show comes together.  

When the funniest people in the world need to ensure a script or edit is hilarious, they turn to Eric. Matt and Oren chat with him about his journey as a director and editor, across "Veep", "Sausage Party", "Black Monday", "The Good Place", and more. 

See more of Eric’s work at https://erickissack.com and follow him on Instagram @erickissack.  

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Endorsements:  

- Matt's Pick: Horror Vibes Coffee Shop - https://horrorvibes.com  

- Oren's Pick: Businesses that know when to stop sending customer surveys + Trader Joe’s gluten-free cauliflower crust pizza + CVS receipts with epic coupon deals (buy one item at a time for more savings)  

- Eric's Pick: Blue Prince Video Game - https://blueprincegame.com  

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