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 1,044 episodes available.

The No Film School Podcast episodes:

June 09, 2023‘White Lotus’ DP Explains the Difference Between Shooting Film & TV
Xavier Grobet is a cinematographer for movies and television shows. He is known for his work on films such as Focus and Nacho Libre and tv shows like The Watchmen and WeCrashed. Xavier is also the cinematographer for the Emmy-award-winning show, The White Lotus, which is available for streaming on HBO Max.
In this episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins and cinematographer Xavier Grobet discuss:
Growing up surrounded by photography
Different opportunities Xavier had when attending film school in Mexico City
Starting his film career as a camera assistant
Meeting director-producer Mike White on the set of Nacho Libre
All the elements that make a fun and great working environment
Creative differences between film and tv shows
Controlling the look of the show
How the gaffer and board operator hacked into the hotel server where they shot White Lotus
How to pull off cross-shooting
Sharing inspiring stories of others in the film industry who never gave up
Memorable Quotes
“I do love documentaries. I wish I had done more in my career.” [7:24]
“It’s been an evolution from film language to tv language.” [16:53]
“Usually I like having a LUT created from the beginning and just stick to it.” [25:11]
“The best thing to do is to be as close as possible to your liking from the get-go.” [25:50]
“Find your own and just pursue every possible opportunity that you have.” [41:43]

Resources:
How to make money as a cinematographer

Listen to our interview with ‘Mami Wata’ Director and DP
The White Lotus season 2 trailer

Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
https://nofilmschool.com/

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool

Twitter
https://twitter.com/nofilmschool

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

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

Send us an email with questions or feedback: [email protected]!

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48min
June 08, 2023How to Transition Roles Within the Film Industry Feat. ‘Flamin’ Hot’ Director Eva Longoria
It can be quite tricky to pivot from one career path in the film industry to another path. What should you do when you start climbing one ladder and realize you want to jump onto another ladder?

In today’s episode, No Film School’s Charles Haine, GG Hawkins, and Jason Hellerman discuss:
Ladders - avoid getting on the wrong one
Not wanting to be put into a box
How having a gap in your resume is not a bad thing
The best ladder to jump on if you don’t know which ladder to climb
Building our identity on our craft
How you should market yourself if you are a “multi-hyphenate” professional
Why you should consider having multiple websites
Plus, we share a short conversation with Eva Longoria, who is a great example of someone who has climbed different ladders in the industry. Eva is not only a talented actor, but she is also a producer and director. Eva offers words of advice for new filmmakers and she describes what it was like to direct her recent film, Flamin' Hot. The film is based on the inspiring true story of Richard Montañez, the Frito Lay janitor who channeled his Mexican American heritage and upbringing to turn the iconic Flamin’ Hot Cheetos into a snack that disrupted the food industry and became a global pop culture phenomenon. The film will be available for streaming on June 9.

Memorable Quotes
“The higher you climb, the easier it is to hop to other verticals.” [1:58]
“There’s this intense pressure to build our identity on these external things.” [15:25]
“There’s not a recipe. You just do it. You learn by doing.” [27:04]
“If you have a device like that, you gotta set it up early. You gotta set up the rules of your world right at the top.” [36:44]

Resources:
Flamin’ Hot trailer

Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
https://nofilmschool.com/

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool

Twitter
https://twitter.com/nofilmschool

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

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

Send us an email with questions or feedback: [email protected]!

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...more
43min
June 02, 2023How to Craft a Freaky Jump Scare With ‘Boogeyman’ Director Rob Savage
Rob Savage is a multi-award winning director and writer who is known for his films such as Host, Dawn of the Deaf, and Dashcam. His recent film, The Boogeyman, is a classic horror movie based on a short story written by Stephen King. The Boogeyman will be in theaters on June 2, 2023.

In this episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins and director Rob Savage discuss:
Rob’s intention for how we wanted the film to be perceived
The themes of grief and poor communication throughout the film
How the teenage character helped to bridge two opposite perspectives
Rob’s process for crafting scare scenes
Figuring out different modes of terror for different scenes
Why you need to focus on one idea versus having too many options
What the emptiness of the house represents
Giving the actors the opportunity to move things around their set bedrooms
What surprised him about making a studio film
Memorable Quotes
“We’ve got to act like we are making a classic horror movie. We’ve got to treat this deadly serious.” [10:15]
“The creature really represents the dark unspoken within all of us.” [11:39]
“I’m always looking for actors who are going to bring a bit of their own personality into the DNA of the movie.” [18:42]
“The house is kind of an extension of how the characters are feeling.” [35:31]

Resources:
The Boogeyman is in theaters June 2

Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
https://nofilmschool.com/

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool

Twitter
https://twitter.com/nofilmschool

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

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

Send us an email with questions or feedback: [email protected]!

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...more
48min
June 01, 2023Why We’ll Be Babysitting AI To Avoid a Cliche Hellhole
Will artificial Intelligence end our jobs and the world as we know it, or is its “intelligence” limited? While many of us feel nervous for the impact it may have on our careers, A.I. is also opening up new opportunities to those who want to break into the industry.

In today’s episode, No Film School’s Charles Haine, GG Hawkins, and Jason Hellerman discuss:
The A.I. marketing tool that is being used to gain attention
Thinking about whether or not we would use A.I. for certain things
Why we don't think A.I. will be able to make great films
The terrifying, yet fascinating, new filter TikTok is rolling out
How AI tools can help us democratize film making
Knowing how to make the right decisions at the right times
Plus, we have a short conversation with Joaquin del Paso and Lucy Pawlak, discussing what it was like to collaborate on the film, The Hole in the Fence. The film, which draws on actual events, dissects politics and privilege through a story that exposes the fault lines of contemporary Mexican society. The film is now available for streaming.

Memorable Quotes
“People who work in the A.I. industry keep talking about how it could potentially end the world.” [1:35]
“The indie film aesthetic and indie film content was driven by available resources.” [21:22]
“The biggest skill of a working professional is knowing when you have to make a decision.” [26:27]
“Living in that gray area is scary, but sometimes it’s absolutely necessary.” [27:50]

Resources:

A.I. is about to make social media much more toxic

The Hole in the Fence trailer (with English subtitles)

Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
https://nofilmschool.com/

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool

Twitter
https://twitter.com/nofilmschool

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

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

Send us an email with questions or feedback: [email protected]!

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...more
54min
May 26, 2023An Accidental First Feature—Walé Oyéjidé’s on His Stunning ‘Bravo, Burkina!’
Walé Oyéjidé is a director, writer, designer, photographer, musician, and lawyer who uses the power of storytelling to combat bias. His debut feature, Bravo, Burkina!, had its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. The film is about a Burkinabé boy who flees his village and migrates to Italy. When later disillusioned by heartbreak, and haunted by memories of home, he travels through time in hope of regaining all he has lost.

In this episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins and director Walé Oyéjidé, discuss:
Not being rigid about the format you use to tell a story
Thinking more about the voice of the filmmaker instead of the budget of the project
Changing the bias people have towards refugees by casting them for his projects
How naivety can help us make big leaps and take chances
Giving your team time to work together before committing to a larger, more serious project
Contributing deeply to the local communities he works with
Why it takes decades to figure out your voice
Appreciating all the rejections you get
Memorable Quotes
“Finding your voice from the beginning, that’s more precious than any particular tools.” [7:38]
“We should not be shy about understanding why we are on this planet.” [17:09]
“You’re doing yourself and the world a disservice by not being your best self.” [49:21]
“It is better to be quiet than it is to be frivolous.” [52:14]

Mentioned Resources:
Bravo, Burkina! - Presented by Ethical Fashion Initiative & Ikiré Jones
Stills from the film: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Mjad6OiPQF8Bncp5QauS1JPPcdGicOdf

Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
https://nofilmschool.com/

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool

Twitter
https://twitter.com/nofilmschool

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

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

Send us an email with questions or feedback: [email protected]!

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...more
58min
May 25, 2023How To Navigate Hollywood Power Structures and What SAG Striking Means for the WGA
If you have ever been treated like garbage by others with power positions, we can relate. How do you respond to that type of treatment? Do you “kill them with kindness” or do you yell right back at them? Is there a way that we can train those in the industry to start being more conscious and kind?

In today’s episode, No Film School’s Charles Haine, GG Hawkins, and Jason Hellerman are joined by award-winning creator, Capella Fahoome to discuss:
Loving the passion-driven film industry
How Hollywood should be a place where we can collectively create and treat each other with mutuality
Using technology to improve quality of life, not eliminate it
Finding a balance between being kind and protecting yourself from exploitation
Why email is not effective to use when communicating to those with power
What things will look like if SAG decides to go on strike
Why groups need to publicly demand things
Talking about foreign films that have really moved us
The benefits that come with watching foreign films
Memorable Quotes
“No one person can know everything. You have to have these relationships.” [3:56]
“Hollywood is a collection, for all of us creatives to come and meet and collaborate in one place.” [5:21]
“We can use A.I. for good. We don’t have to use it to eliminate people’s livelihood.” [9:03]
“I hate the term soft skills…they are more important than the hard skills and calling them soft skills make them seem like towels.” [14:20]

Resources:
How to Be A Hollywood Assistant in Film and TV
‘Joyland’ Director Saim Sadiq Redefines What It Means To Be a Director
Capella’s website

Capella’s Instagram

When Is Now podcast

Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
https://nofilmschool.com/

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool

Twitter
https://twitter.com/nofilmschool

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

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

Send us an email with questions or feedback: [email protected]!

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...more
58min
May 19, 2023How To Break Into TV and Keep Healthy Boundaries
When it comes to following your dream of breaking into the entertainment industry, you have to hustle in order to make that dream a reality. The question is, when does all that hustling become toxic to your well-being?

In this episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins and writer Charla Lauriston discuss:
How Charla manages living between LA and Vancouver
Having this terrifying and weird desire to do stand up comedy
Taking writing seriously versus not taking it seriously
Having a sense of urgency when you dive into a new career in entertainment
What she learned from making a terrible web series
Why the pandemic felt like a gift
Growing out of the constant, hustling lifestyle
Why she decided to go back to social media after taking three years off
Memorable Quotes
“Our profession is very anxiety inducing.” [12:05]
“If you have the creativeness in your soul and you don’t nurture it, you will go crazy.” [18:48]
“It’s very very hard to put up boundaries because there is very little structure in the work that we do.” [37:54]
“Where I am is enough. Where I am is okay.” [42:15]

Resources:

The Werking Writer School

Charla’s Instagram

The Werking Writer on Instagram

Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
https://nofilmschool.com/

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool

Twitter
https://twitter.com/nofilmschool

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

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

Send us an email with questions or feedback: [email protected]!

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...more
57min
May 18, 2023Is Your Project Fellowship-Ready? Plus, Find The Perfect IP For You
With the WGA being on its third week of strike, we can’t help but start to think about all the ways the industry is changing and what that looks like for us filmmakers. Will Hollywood still seek out our creative ideas, or will we be pushed to only making IP projects in order to market an existing idea? And how does this all affect brand new filmmakers who are struggling just to get their short films accepted into labs?

In today’s episode, No Film School’s Charles Haine, GG Hawkins, and Jason Hellerman discuss:
Making the most out of a difficult situation, with fun events for those on strike
Keeping an eye out on the bargaining dates for DGA and SAG
A story about a development executive who was willing to support GG’s stance on the WGA strike
What bums us out about IP and the future of the industry
Figuring out which IP’s you would like to make your own
What labs are actually looking for when you apply
How to know when your projects are ready for labs and festivals
The benefits to developing projects in a group
Building on yourself so you can keep getting better
Memorable Quotes
“Get out there and picket, because your future in Hollywood is dependent on it. Whether you are in the WGA or not.” [6:29]
“I try to write things that I know I could potentially make.” [20:39]
“If the story stands out…people will look past things that require budgets.” [36:28]
“If your mom loves it, ask someone else.” [42:43]

Resources:
Why Is Hollywood Leaving Tarantino Behind?
Which Paid Service Gives the Best Script Coverage? We Tested Three Popular Options

Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
https://nofilmschool.com/

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool

Twitter
https://twitter.com/nofilmschool

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

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

Send us an email with questions or feedback: [email protected]!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
53min
May 12, 2023A Step-By-Step Guide to Indie Film: From Labs to Sundance to Theaters
Laurel Parmet is a director and writer who has been nominated and awarded for her shorts, Kira Burning and Spring. Kara Durrett is a producer who works in both independent film and television, producing films such as Save Yourselves! and Topside. We were honored to speak to both of them about their recent film, The Starling Girl, which made its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.

In this episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins, director Laurel Parmet, and producer Kara Durrett discuss:
The surreal, emotional feeling of premiering at Sundance
What the film, The Starling Girl, is about
Why Laurel believes going to film school was invaluable for her
Getting fully financed and then losing it all when the pandemic started
Pitching a film - how to do it and why it’s so amazing
What the remote editing experience was like
Plotting out each scene to encourage certain audience emotions
Feeling fortunate from the positive response after premiering at Sundance
The process of bringing a film to the screen
How to maintain stamina on projects that take years to make
What you need to do before deciding to become a producer
Memorable Quotes
“Eventually it all fell apart and we didn’t know how we were going to make the film, and it was pretty dark for me.” [19:33]
“Everytime you pitch, you are honing in on what is the most important part of the story.” [24:46]
“Make sure you realize you are running a marathon, not a sprint, because it’s a long road.” [34:38]
“Pick the people you adore and then make something together.” [55:07]

Mentioned Resources:
The Starling Girl

Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
https://nofilmschool.com/

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool

Twitter
https://twitter.com/nofilmschool

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

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

Send us an email with questions or feedback: [email protected]!

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...more
1h 7min
May 11, 2023Live From the WGA Picket Line and Why It Matters to You
The Writer’s Guild of America went on strike on May 2, 2023. The strike is more than just writers putting down their pens and picking up their picket signs, to fight for their rights. This strike also symbolizes “the beginning of a bigger conversation about morality and labor practices” throughout corporate America.

In today’s episode, No Film School’s Charles Haine, GG Hawkins, and Jason Hellerman discuss:
Recent interactions with union members out on the picket lines
Phil Rosenthal’s history with the WGA
What screenwriting is now compared to what it used to be
How detrimental the mini-rooms are
Studios using loopholes to get out of paying rates they already agreed to
Hollywood CEOs making millions every year while others are getting laid off
Feeling encouraged by the solidarity between all the unions in the industry
Not submitting to the Sundance labs in order to support WGA
How the WGA strike is impacting more than just the television and film industry
Memorable Quotes
“I think it’s a little sad that I’ve worked on four shows, but have no production experience.” [2:14]
“You gotta strike when things are unfair. No matter what your job is.” [4:11]
“It’s not even a show business problem, it’s a corporate America problem.” [6:22]
“United we bargain. Divided we beg.” [19:50]
“Fifty grand is not enough to live in Los Angeles. It just isn’t.” [28:04]

Resources:

Phil Rosenthal’s website

History of American Screenwriters and Their Guild

PreWGA Solidarity on Substack

Hollywood CEO Collect Billions…

Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
https://nofilmschool.com/

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool

Twitter
https://twitter.com/nofilmschool

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

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

Send us an email with questions or feedback: [email protected]!

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...more
43min

FAQs about The No Film School Podcast:

How many episodes does The No Film School Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 1,044 episodes available.

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