The No Film School Podcast

By No Film School

A podcast about how to build a career in filmmaking. No Film School shares the latest opportunities and trends for anyone working in film and TV. We break news on cameras, lighting, and apps. We inter... more

· TV & Film

4.5

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How many episodes does The No Film School Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 964 episodes available.

The No Film School Podcast episodes:

April 29, 2024How ‘Challengers’ Screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes Aces Character, Tension and Stakes
Justin Kuritzkes is the screenwriter for the film, Challengers, starring Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor. The story revolves around tennis pros who are caught in a love triangle. It’s not just about the game of tennis, but about the game of love and power. Let’s dive into Justin’s process of writing such a damn good movie!

In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins speaks with writer Justin Kuritzkes to discuss:
How screenplays differ from other written mediums
Building up a story that would realistically exist in the real world
The inspiration behind the story
How writing the movie made tennis less enjoyable for him to watch
Deciding on the setting of the story
Surprising moments during the writing process
Writing in cars, hotel rooms, and airplanes when you are pressed for time
The questions he asked himself before writing the story
Collaborating with actors and getting their feedback
Feeling like you are watching the movie as you write the script
Memorable Quotes
“The thing about screenwriting is that it’s such a rigidly formalistic, medium.” [3:52]
“I started thinking about the movie and I started watching a lot of tennis. Quickly, I became an obsessive tennis fan. I almost didn’t want to write the movie.” [11:40]
“It’s like the big bang. Once the character is there, it’s sort of like “Now, there is light!’” [14:23]
“If you feel like you are watching the movie when you’re writing it, hopefully, other people will feel that way, too.” [24:37]

Mentioned:
CHALLENGERS

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30min
April 25, 2024Packaging and the Death of Naked Specs
The days of selling naked specs are over. It’s now the filmmaker's job to understand how to package their projects. While many were opposed to packaging in the past, there are effective ways to approach the process that will leave you feeling empowered.

In today’s episode, No Film School’s Charles Haine, GG Hawkins, and Jason Hellerman discuss:
The benefits and drawbacks of packaging
Why Hollywood is risk averse right now
Packaging through the eyes of a writer or director
Naked specs - what are they?
What the packaging process looks like
Writing specs that can realistically be created
Why AI will not eliminate the need for skilled creatives
Collaborating with others so they feel comfortable and seen
The problems of measuring stardom
Memorable Quotes
“Your script has to be perfect by the time you turn it in. Nobody wants to develop anything anymore.” [7:48]
“It’s the job of a filmmaker to bend reality as far as you possibly can.” [15:16]
“AI often gives people the heebie jeebies.” [24:15]
“Every measurement tool we have is gibberish.” [27:20]

Mentioned:
Movies & TV How To Survive Until 2025 For Filmmakers

Scriptnotes Podcast - Ep 639 Intrinsic Motivation

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34min
April 22, 2024Live from NAB 2024: Blackmagic's CEO on the URSA Cine 12K & Future of AI
We had the chance to speak to Grant Petty of Blackmagic Design at this year’s NAB conference. It was as much of a conversation about technology and innovation as it was a conversation about human nature.

In today’s episode, No Film School’s Jourdan Aldredge speaks with Blackmagic CEO Grant Petty to discuss:
Developing the URSA Cine with a post-production mindset
Zero-cost options from Blackmagic for beginners
Why Grant doesn’t like to compete with others
PYXIS camera and its features
Creating products that lend to an efficient post-production workflow
Exciting new changes and updates to DaVinci Resolve 19
Grant’s opinion on AI and the future of editing
The moment he fell in love with color correction
Feeling lonely and misunderstood
Why you have to be a ruthless, yet empathetic product engineer
Memorable Quotes
“Business people are some of the stupidest people in the world.” [22:25]
“A lot of this technology is just shit. It’s not very reliable.” [29:11]
“If it gets too smart, it’s just another species to kill. Humans are fantastic at killing everything. We just gotta go hunting computers.” [30:45]
“With creativity comes great loneliness.” [47:58]
“You got to be simultaneously ruthless and simultaneously full of empathy.” [50:00]

Mentioned:
A First-Hand Look at the New Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K at NAB 2024

Check out Jourdan's article

Blackmagic URSA Cine

Blackmagic PYXIS

DaVinci Resolve 19

Find No Film School everywhere:
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https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool

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1h
April 19, 2024Editing Tyler Perry's Life Story with Filmmaker Erick Sasso
Erick Sasso is a multi-hyphenate creative and the editor of the film, Maxine's Baby: The Tyler Perry Story, which documents the life of Tyler Perry. Erick compares the making of documentaries to the making of a meal. You need to use the right ingredients…not too much, not too little. And everyone at the table has to enjoy it.

In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins speaks with filmmaker Erick Sasso to discuss:
Making music videos with his friends in high school
Realizing you can reverse engineer in the edit
The importance of charging adequately for your services
How he landed the editing job on Maxine’s Baby
What it looks like to fall in love with the subject
Navigating topics such as abuse and childhood trauma
What it was like seeing emotional reactions from the audience
Important lessons he has learned about being a filmmaker
Setting up projects in Adobe Premiere
Overcoming tech fears and looking forward to new updates
Why editors make the best directors
Focusing on development and learning from others
Memorable Quotes
“Usually you are not charging enough. Usually, you are charging way less than industry standard.” [12:38]
“When you edit a lot, it’s really creepy when you meet people.” [32:59]
“You may think you are a hard worker until you meet someone who is doing 10x your output.” [35:09]
“You need to become a pro at uncertainty.” [60:24]

Mentioned:
Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story

Erick's website

Connect with Erick on IG

Find No Film School everywhere:

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YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool

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1h 10min
April 19, 2024Why The 'Blood for Dust' Director & Producer Don't Wait for Permission To Make Movies
Rod Blackhurst and Noah Lang are the dynamic duo behind the film Blood for Dust, starring Kit Harington, Scooty McNairy, and Josh Lucas. These filmmakers share why leading with honesty, openness, and enthusiasm is the key to building strong relationships and creating successful films. You don’t have to be cutthroat in this industry in order to achieve your filmmaking dreams.

In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins speaks with director Rod Blackhurst and producer Noah Lang to discuss:
How Rod and Noah began working together
Why you should lead with honesty and enthusiasm
Making movies with the same people over and over again
Understanding what you have agency over in your career
How Scoot McNairy and Kit Harington came onto the project
How meeting David Gordon Green in 2012 eventually led to the making of Blood for Dust
The power of self-awareness and being a kind filmmaker
The vibe on set - having fun amid stress
What it looks like to make an honest living in filmmaking
Memorable Quotes
“You can meet someone on the internet and become homies.” [3:27]
“You don’t need everyone to want to be on your team. You just need some of the right people.” [38:55]
“Being a good person and doing good work matters. It does result in good things happening.” [43:02]
“We’re rowing upstream, going against the grain. We’re out there believing in what we have. Wrestling with our choices, behaviors, actions, our own struggles, and darkness.” [50:44]

Mentioned:
Blood for Dust

Here Alone

Connect with Rod on IG

Connect with Noah on IG

Witchcraft (Rod & Noah’s production company)

Find No Film School everywhere:

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1h 2min
April 12, 2024These No Film School Listeners Won Slamdance and Then Some
Nina Ognjanovic is the director of the film, Where the Road Leads, which won Best Narrative Feature at Slamdance 2023. Nina and her passionate team prove you can successfully market a foreign, indie film on a limited budget and still win at major festivals in the US and worldwide.

In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins speaks with Nina Ognjanovic, David Jovanovic, and Jana Bjelica to discuss:
Their experience traveling from Serbia to the United States for Slamdance
Marketing the film using scrappy, creative methods
Their approach to casting and shooting
What it was like to act on multiple projects at the same time
How they handled shooting in an isolated location without cell service
Building trust with the cast, crew, and locals
The Slamdance experience and the reaction of the audience
The first shot of the film - finding a unique solution to a challenge
Setting the production schedule based on the weather conditions
The magic they experienced during production
Why you need to fail and experiment before doing a feature
Memorable Quotes
“It’s hard, but when you love your job, everything is possible” [9:23]
“I was freaking out day after day…my hair started falling off.” [21:35]
“Manage your expectations. Don’t write something you know you can’t deliver.” [30:58]

Mentioned:
Where the Road Leads on TikTok

Where the Road Leads on Instagram

Pointless Films Production House

Find No Film School everywhere:

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...more
40min
April 11, 2024Survive Until 2025
Were you hoping work would pick back up after last year’s strikes? Unfortunately, work is epically slow, and 2024 is a rough year for the film industry. But just because Hollywood is slowing down, doesn’t mean you have to.

In today’s episode, No Film School’s Charles Haine, GG Hawkins, and Jason Hellerman discuss:
The industry post-strike
How higher interest rates are affecting streamers
The unpredictability of a career in film
Accepting the things out of your control
Living with family or friends to lower expenses
The unattainable “American Dream”
Staying creative during this slow year
How famine years can have their benefits
An example of finding career success outside of Hollywood
Memorable Quotes
“Work is epically slow and it’s terrifying.” [3:44]
“If you don’t have three months of cash cushion in your bank account, do not feel bad.” [19:40]
“I don’t think we need to build our identity on outside markers of financial success.” [28:21]
“If you can’t be investing money, you can be investing your energy and creativity into your future career.” [32:52]

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...more
49min
April 05, 2024How to Safely Light Chris Hemsworth on Fire
Sam Hargrave is an award winning stuntman and stunt coordinator, second unit director for films like Suicide Squad and Avengers:Endgame, and director of the film Extraction. His second feature film, Extraction 2, is available on Netflix, June 16.

In this episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins and director Sam Hargrave discuss:
The transition from stunt performing to directing
What a “stunt vis” is and why it's important for efficiency and safety on set
How directing a film is like being a switchboard operator
Why filming Extraction 2 was more challenging than the first film
Wanting to give the audience more the second time around
The specifics to the casting process
Operating the camera on the more dangerous scenes
Landing a helicopter onto a moving train
Making others feel invested in your project
Sam’s approach to emailing those he works with
Memorable Quotes
“I was young and flexible and really wanted to be Jackie Chan.” [4:06]
“There’s so many questions that come the way of the director. It feels like you are a switchboard operator on methamphetamines.” [10:07]
“Communication with other departments is one of the most important things in filmmaking.” [11:50]
“Each movie…is its own unique puzzle. It’s a labyrinth that you and the crew have to work your way through.” [14:34]
“When you can do something practically, always do it.” [23:12]

Resources:
Extraction 2 trailer

Find No Film School everywhere:
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...more
48min
April 04, 2024How Heat Shapes Your Career & the Biz Feat Oscar-Nominated Producer Chris Moore & Team
Heat is important to your film career. It means that you and your work are gaining attention and recognition, which can lead to more opportunities in the future. So how can you generate and navigate heat at an industry level? What contributes to “positive heat” or “negative heat?”

In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins and Jason Hellerman speak with Chris Moore, Katie Marpe, and Dennis De Nobile to discuss:
How Chris, Katie, and Dennis entered the industry and how they met
Why you need to promote yourself and your work
The One Moore Hollywood Podcast and the topics they discuss
The difference between “in the business heat” and “out of the business heat”
Seeing big corporations gravitating toward original ideas
How audiences decide whether they will watch a movie or not
Getting feedback on your ideas
Why your idea may be better suited for a different medium
Good Will Hunting - Generating authentic heat with the script
When you realize a script isn’t working
How your attitude and behavior affect the type of heat you generate
Sensing tension of the cast and crew while watching a movie
Memorable Quotes
“It’s like surfing. The best thing to do in your career is to read what’s happening around you and take the wave where it’s taking you.” [4:22]
“You have to be able to sell yourself and your ideas. You can’t just operate in a vacuum and expect somebody to discover you.” [16:12 ]
“Go out and make something you think you would pay for.” [52:12]
“What’s the commercial version of your weirdness?” [1:01:28]
“Heat will come back to you. It will tell you if your shit is good. If you can’t generate any heat, that means your shit is not good.” [1:07:17]

Mentioned:
Follow Chris on IG

Follow Dennis on IG

Follow Katie on IG

One Moore Hollywood Podcast on IG

Find No Film School everywhere:

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...more
1h 27min
March 29, 2024Is Achieving the American Dream Possible Through Cinematography?
How do you build a career as a cinematographer when the odds are against you? How do you create opportunities for yourself, when dealing with rejection, financial barriers, and prejudice? Is it possible to pursue your dream without conforming and becoming someone you are not?

In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins speaks with cinematographers Bruce Cole and Alejandro Mejía to discuss:
Being drawn to visual art from a young age
The people who encouraged and inspired their creative dreams
Feeling motivated by rejection
Why New York is a great place to start a film career
The importance of having mentors in your career journey
Stigmas they experience in the industry as minorities
Why we need to stop glamorizing film careers
How to maintain balance during long, tedious projects
Cultivating yourself and embracing who you are
Having another creative form of expression outside of film
Memorable Quotes
“I want to do this. I want to travel the world and know the world with a camera.” [14:25]
“New York is probably the best starter city for young filmmakers from all walks of life.” [40:09]
“This is not a speed race. This is a marathon. We are long-distance runners.” [71:28]
“We’re losing that artistry because we are so focused on being someone else.” [79:10]

Mentioned:
From Landing the Job to Boosting Morale: Sundance DP Roundtable Dives into Filters & More
More about Bruce

More about Alejandro

Find No Film School everywhere:

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...more
1h 29min

FAQs about The No Film School Podcast:

How many episodes does The No Film School Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 964 episodes available.

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