Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie Filmmaking

By Liz Manashil & Alrik BursellTV & Film Arts Film Interviews Visual Arts

Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie Filmmaking episodes

August 28, 2025 Larry Fessenden - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 315 from April 2021 with actor, writer and director Larry Fessenden who talked about acting alongside Barbara Crampton in Jakobs Wife. We felt that Larry was a good match for our episode with Macon Blair on Monday because they are both indie legends who write, director and act and I think it’s interesting to compare the differences and similarities of their stories. After that we play another round of THE GAME, enjoy!
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50 min
August 25, 2025 Macon Blair - Remaking the Cult Classic The Toxic Avenger!
This week we welcome indie film rockstar, actor, writer and director Macon Blair on the show to talk about writing and directing The Toxic Avenger Remake which releases in theaters this week! Macon also talks about the impact Blue Ruin had on his career and the circumstances that lead to him directing The Toxic Avenger! After that we play another round of Your the expert, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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1 hr 10 min
August 21, 2025 Brian Helgeland - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 454 from December 2023 featuring writer and director Brian Helgeland who talks about making his latest feature Finestkind starring Ben Foster and Tommy Lee Jones.Alrik thought it would be fun to pair Brain with Chuck Russell from Monday because Brain also directed some really big and monumental movies in Alrik’s life from the 90s, namely Payback. After that we play another round of You’re the expert, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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49 min
August 18, 2025 Chuck Russell - How to Approach Remaking a Horror Classic with Witchboard!
This week we welcome Writer, director Chuck Russell on the show to talk about remaking Witchboard as his latest feature, we also talk about his hayday as a director, getting to direct NIghtmare on Elmstreet 3, The Blob remake, The Mask and Eraser. After that we play another round of THE GAME, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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1 hr 2 min
August 14, 2025 Maria Loohufvud and Love Martinsen - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 404 from December 2022 featuring documentary filmmakers Maria Loohufvud and Love Martinesen who talked about making their documentary Calendar Girls! I thought this was a good match for our episode with Julie Meyer from Monday because they both made documentaries about artists, doing something that they believe in, just in very different circumstances. After that we play another round of You’re the expert, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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58 min
August 11, 2025 Julie Meyer - Filming Ballet Dancers in Ukraine During Wartime!
This week we welcome producer Julie Meyer on the show to talk about the documentary The Sky Was on Fire, Ballet and War in the Ukraine, where she talks about how the project came to be and what it was like traveling to Ukraine to film the movie. After that we play another round of THE GAME, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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1 hr 9 min
August 07, 2025 Jason Horton - BONUS Throwback Interview!
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51 min
August 05, 2025 Jason Park - Putting Your Filmmaking Success in Your Own Hands!
This week we welcome writer/director/editor/colorist and actor Jason Park on the show to talk about how he has made his 8 features on his own, while raising a family and having a day job. He also breaks down how he manages to shoot his movies primarily on the weekends. After that we play another round of THE GAME and talk about the current statuses of our projects., enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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1 hr 11 min
August 02, 2025 Jeff Ryan - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 439 from August 2023 featuring filmmaker Jeff Ryan who talks about making his feature Mean Spirited, he thought this was a good match for our episode from Monday because Liz thought this was a good match because both of their movies have Spirit in the title. After that we play another round of You’re the expert, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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47 min
July 28, 2025 Christopher Yates and Sabrina Zahir - Coming Together as Producer and Director to Make a First Feature!
This week we welcome writer/director Christopher Yates and producer Sabrina Zahir on the show to talk about the making of American Spirit which premiered at the Austin Film Festival last fall. Our producer extraordinaire Eric Toms conducted this interview from the Omni Hotel in Austin so it’s sure to be a good one. After that we play another round of THE GAME, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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1 hr

About Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie Filmmaking

From the publisher's feed

Liz Manashil and Alrik Bursell discuss independent filmmaking, everything from writing, producing and directing to working as crew. But this is not just a podcast about "making it," it's also about struggling with rejection, self-doubt and everything else that comes with pursuing a career in film. Follow along as we forge our own way through the industry and talk to guests who are also making it happen.