The MAKE IT Podcast

Hello, Hello!

After a short hiatus, Chris and Nick are back with a new edition of Indie Talk. In this conversation, we cover Academy Award nominees, what stance the film industry should take going forward on oppressive regimes like China, North Korea, and Russia, and why making a short film before you jump into feature films could save you millions of dollars, years of lost time, and some of your most important relationships. Enjoy!

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Hello, Indie Film Creatives!

In this edition of Mistakes In The Making, we hear from Actor and Filmmaker Stefanie Black. She details a casting competition from her past that could have gone better if she only believed she was worth all the attention and work offered to her. Enjoy!

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Hello, Indie Film Creatives! 

In this episode, we have a conversation with Documentary Director and Producer Sarah Klein. We talk about her partnership at Redglass Pictures, why knowing your audience is essential for making the best documentary films, why she loves short-form docs, her working friendship with Ken Burns, why constantly creating meaningless content for social media is a bad idea, incredible stories from filming the Obama's, JJ Abrams, and Neil Degrasse Tyson, and much, much more. Enjoy!

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More On Sarah Klein

http://www.redglasspictures.com

Redglass co-founder Sarah Klein is an award-winning producer and director. Her early credits include the HBO documentary, Hard as Nails and the Arte film, The Good Mother. Redglass Pictures was formed in 2006 and since then, Klein has co-directed and produced many notable projects, including History of Memory for HP, and a series of short films for Ken Burns’ Cancer: The Emperor of Maladies, which won a DuPont Award. Among the many hats she wears at Redglass, Klein leads creative development and production. She has had the honor of interviewing: The Obamas, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, John Kerry, Michael Chabon, Warren Buffett, and JJ Abrams, to name a few.

When not on location, Klein may be found in her studio creating large-format abstract collages.

 

Links:

Imdb

Tom Mason (filmmaker)

Neil deGrasse Tyson: Science in America (short)

Miracle on 22nd Street (short)

 

Hoop Dreams (documentary)

Kathy Caldwell jewelry

Ken Burns (producer)

Hard as Nails (documentary)

David Holbrooke (director)

Tina Fey (writer)

New York Times

J.J. Abrams (producer)

Errol Morris (director)

Spike Lee (director)

Jennifer Packer (artist)

Alison Bechdel (artist)

All About Love: New Visions by bell hooks (book)

Valerie Barnhart (animator)

 

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Hello, Indie Film Creatives!

In this edition of Industry Insights, Nick outlines the importance of being brilliant in doing the basic things well - a sentiment shared with us by filmmaker Amanda Paige Young. Enjoy!

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Amanda Paige Young (director)

Full episode with Amanda

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Hello, Indie Film Creatives!

In this special in-depth episode, writer Jason McConnell and Executive Producer Chris Barkley take an essential deep dive into investing in Independent Film. You'll learn everything you need to know about what it takes to have success as an Executive Producer, as well as some of the pitfalls to avoid. Enjoy!

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Hello, Indie Film Creatives! 

In this edition of Mistakes In The Making, we hear from writer and former studio executive, Shannan E. Johnson. She talks about the mistake of lack of focus. This episode is perfect for those multi-hyphenate creatives that are so broadly talented that they have difficulty choosing which creative path to pursue. Enjoy!

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Shannan’s website

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Hello, Indie Film Creatives! 

In this episode, we have a conversation with Ann Arbor Film Festival Executive Director Leslie Raymond. We talk about what it takes to push the film medium beyond the status quo, balancing a two artist relationship, the 60th anniversary of the Ann Arbor Film Festival (coming in March), working past the unsexy parts of the film business to reach your goals and her experiences with Ken Burns and Michael Moore as advisory Board members of the Ann Arbor Film Festival. Enjoy!

Questions answered in this episode:

• What are some of the special programs planned for this year's 60th AAFF to celebrate its history?
• What was Leslie Raymond's career path and background before becoming the AAFF director?
• What have been some of the biggest successes and challenges of Leslie's time as director?
• What are some of Leslie's favorite movies from 2021?
• What resources would Leslie recommend for experimental filmmakers?
• What advice does Leslie have for making experimental film accessible to new audiences
• How has having figures like Ken Burns and Michael Moore on the advisory board impacted the festival?

Summary:

Leslie Raymond, executive director of the Ann Arbor Film Festival, joined host Chris Barkley on the Make It podcast to discuss the festival's upcoming 60th anniversary event. Raymond has led the historic festival since 2013, making plans this year for a hybrid in-person and online format due to the ongoing pandemic.

The AAFF, founded in 1962, is the oldest experimental film festival in North America. Raymond highlighted some of the special programs planned to celebrate the festival's rich history, including retrospectives of influential filmmakers like James Benning and curated programs connecting past alumni with contemporary voices. She stressed the festival's commitment to representing diverse stories and storytellers.

Raymond's career path to her current role was unconventional, stemming from her background as an interdisciplinary artist. She discussed the challenges of nonprofit management and her efforts to advocate for filmmakers through equitable payment standards. Raymond also shared advice for welcoming new audiences to experimental cinema through an accessible, communal viewing experience.

The 60th AAFF promises to be a cinematic feast for both diehard experimental film fans and newcomers alike from March 22nd to 27th, both online and in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

More About Leslie Raymond

aafilmfesst.org
www.facebook.com/AAFilmFest/
twitter.com/aafilmfest?lang=en
www.instagram.com/aafilmfest/?hl=en

Leslie Raymond joined the Ann Arbor Film Festival as its executive director in August 2013. In September 2019, Raymond’s leadership role expanded to include festival programming. Prior to her position with AAFF, as a teaching artist and educator, she founded the New Media Program at the University of Texas at San Antonio and served as an assistant professor of art in digital video and new media art at Oakland University, where she was recognized with an Innovations in Teaching award. Raymond is a Film Festival Alliance board member, and a third-generation American of Chinese and Jewish descent. She holds a BFA in film/video from the Rhode Island School of Design, an MFA in new genres from the University of Michigan School of Art & Design, and also studied film, video, and new media art at the Art Institute of Chicago.

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Hello, Indie Film Creatives!

In this edition of Industry Insights, Nick borrows from the following wisdom, "Learn to ignore what people say, because what they say ultimately doesn't matter; it's what they do. If you want to collaborate with someone, watch their work first," provided by inaugural podcast guest, Kristopher Wente. Enjoy! 

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Questions or Comments? Reach out to us at [email protected] or on social and the web at https://linktr.ee/BonsaiCreative

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Hello, Indie Film Creatives!

This is an Indie Talk week, and in this edition, we talk about men with unusual names, how 'Encanto' has remained in our collective consciousness, why Indie Filmmakers need to back Kayne West, the Lin-Manuel Miranda and Immortal Technique dichotomy, the greatest of 'Tick Tick Boom,' Andrew Garfield, 'CODA,' 'TITANE,' and 'C'mon, C'mon,' 'Queen of Basketball' and cold open poetry from Bonsai Nick inspired by the film 'Don't Look Up.' Enjoy!

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Questions or Comments? Reach out to us at [email protected] or on social and the web at https://linktr.ee/BonsaiCreative

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Links:

Dr. Nicholas Quin Serenati  

We Need to Talk About Cosby (tv mini series)

Raya and the Last Dragon (film)

Flee (film)

The Mitchells vs the Machines (film)

Hamilton (film)

Immortal technique (rapper)

Listening to Kanye West Donda 2 Album (news)

CODA (film)

tick, tick… BOOM! (film)

Birdman (film)

Being the Ricardos (film)

Network (film)

The Power of the Dog (film)

Nightmare Alley (film)

Guillermo del Toro (Writer)

C’mon C’mon (film)

Joaquin Phoenix (actor)

Titane (film)

Queen of Basketball (documentary)

Ben Proudfoot (director)

Another Version of You (film)

Paramount Plus

 

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Hello, Indie Film Creatives! 

In this edition of Mistakes In The Making, Actor JesseJames Locorriere talks about the lesson of finding out that he wasn't special and that acting is a great job, but not a great identity. Enjoy!

JesseJames’ Facebook

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Questions or Comments? Reach out to us at [email protected] or on social and the web at https://linktr.ee/BonsaiCreative

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