The MAKE IT Podcast

Hosted by Chris Barkley & Nick Buggs

Business Tv Film InterviewsInterviews guestsExplicit

Website RSS feed

Episodes

545

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

About the show

We are lifelong friends, movie lovers, and producers of three feature films. We are on a mission to share insights and emcee unfiltered conversations with pros across the film world. New episodes every two Fridays. Watch on YouTube, listen on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Stay Inspired, Chris + Nick Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-make-it-podcast--7516419/support .

Listen to episodes

60 recent

November 10, 202623 min

SUMMARIES | Alex Ferrari: A Mobster’s $20M Offer, Indie Film Hustle, and Next Level Soul

Hello, Hello! In this episode. We trace Alex Ferrari’s path from street-level hustling to independent filmmaking and spiritual media. His story highlights the difference between trading personal labor for income and building scalable platforms. We also explore how setbacks, skepticism, and creative constraints shaped his work and purpose. We also talk about: Ferrari’s grandmother watching his first street-corner sale from inside a bank, and his later weekend garage sales in Florida. How his wife helped interrupt his small-scale retail hustle and refocus him on filmmaking. Ferrari’s two-year retreat from the industry, sorting comic books for an eBay business with a friend. The discussion’s advice about festival laurels, saturated streaming markets, and the business side of independent film. Ferrari’s interest in Paramahansa Yogananda and conversations about spiritual legacy, consciousness, and the soul. Products, software, websites, people, and places mentioned People Alex Ferrari Shannon Lee Bruce Lee Dr. Eve Marjorie Woollacott Paramahansa Yogananda Alex’s Projects Shooting for the Mob On the Corner of Ego and Desire Indie Film Hustle Next Level Soul MAKE IT The MAKE IT Podcast Summaries Platforms, Services & Tools GameStop Amazon eBay Skype Netflix Hulu Distribber iPhone 1080p pocket camera ARRI Alexa Places & Organizations Jamaica, Queens Florida Full Sail University Los Angeles Spago The Ivy Sundance Film Festival Park City, Utah Los Angeles Times Hollywood Video Other References Café Bustelo Maxwell House VHS DVD 2008 financial crisis Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-make-it-podcast--7516419/support . We’re humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work, and your support makes it all possible. If you want to go deeper, join the MAKE IT Academy. Members get 200+ courses on screenwriting, acting, producing, directing, and film financing, plus members-only perks, discounts, and a bi-weekly newsletter with exclusive grants and film programs. Memberships start at $9.99/month, and you can gift one to a fellow filmmaker. Join here: https://themakeitpodcast.com/pages/academy Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT This episode includes AI-generated content.

October 30, 20261 hr 31 min

449 - Why Streamers Won’t Look at Your $100K Movie, New Federal Film Tax Credit Explained: How Indie Films Get 30% Back, and Does SAG-AFTRA’

This episode is brought to you by Anthropic. Claude is the AI for minds that don’t stop at good enough—it's the collaborator that actually understands your entire workflow and thinks WITH you, not for you. Ready to tackle bigger problems? Sign up for Claude Pro when you use our link – www.claude.ai/makeit This episode is brought to you by MAKE IT Academy. Get access to 200+ courses today at https://themakeitpodcast.com/pages/academy and use code: ACADEMY50 for 50% off the Academy for a year! Hello, Hello! In this episode. the fellas are back to chop it up about a wide variety of topics! We explore how a proposed federal film incentive could affect independent production budgets and U.S. filmmaking. We debate AI contract provisions, the shrinking of acting opportunities, and the creative impact of studio consolidation. We also discuss mental health, television storytelling, and what to watch for Halloween. Enjoy! We also talk about: Why introverts may find meaningful conversations energizing, even after a busy week. Nick's critique of Vision Quest and its rapid, comic-book-style storytelling. Why the new A Different World feels different from the original to Nick, and why he still welcomes the cast’s opportunity. The importance of asking friends directly whether they are okay, especially during a period of social and technological change. Halloween picks ranging from Whalefall and The Sixth Sense to Gremlins, plus the our thoughts on horror built through story rather than gore. People, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned:People Adam Schiff Mark Maxey Chris Greene Nichole Marie Lim Sean Astin RJ Mitte Sacha Baron Cohen / Ali G Sydney Sweeney Aaron Sorkin Kadeem Hardison Dominic Hoffman Tom Cruise Arnold Schwarzenegger Eddie Murphy Organizations & Companies Anthropic SAG-AFTRA WGA The New York Times IFC Skydance GEICO Progressive Liberty Mutual Films & Television E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial The Hunger Games Pulp Fiction Digger John Carter Howard the Duck Norbit The Only Living Pickpocket in New York Tilly Norwood WandaVision Vision Quest A Different World / Hillman College Whalefall The Sixth Sense Sin City Gremlins The Amityville Horror Friday the 13th A Nightmare on Elm Street Hellraiser Halloween The Terminator Predator Alien Requiem for a Dream Bad Boys: Ride or Die mother! Products & Platforms Claude Pro Riverside Storyblocks Places Georgia Kentucky Louisiana New Mexico New Hampshire New Jersey Legislation & Industry H.R. 10582 — Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act Film production incentives in the US SAG-AFTRA contracts WGA contracts Paramount Skydance / Warner Bros. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-make-it-podcast--7516419/support . We’re humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work, and your support makes it all possible. If you want to go deeper, join the MAKE IT Academy. Members get 200+ courses on screenwriting, acting, producing, directing, and film financing, plus members-only perks, discounts, and a bi-weekly newsletter with exclusive grants and film programs. Memberships start at $9.99/month, and you can gift one to a fellow filmmaker. Join here: https://themakeitpodcast.com/pages/academy Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT

October 27, 202625 min

SUMMARIES - Lee Abrams - Why Fans Reject Safe Media And Human Taste Beats the Algorithm

We are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters. So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating, or giving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT https://themakeitpodcast.store/newsletter Hello, Hello!In this episode, AI Hosts Alex Ivey and Allison Inverness explore Lee Abrams’ path from a teenage radio enthusiast to a media innovator who challenged conventional formats. The conversation explains how audience observation, creative judgment, and careful programming helped build passionate fans. It also considers whether his approach can reshape television news and remain distinctive in an age of AI-generated media. We also talk about: How a WQAM summer job exposed Abrams to radio operations and the frustrations of AM Top 40. His callback-card research and the principle that data should verify creative choices rather than originate them. The difference between users and fans, and why sequencing turns content into programming. XM’s 89 studios, 2.5 million-song library, and the story of blues programmer Bill Wax meeting B.B. King. Abrams’ Tribune Company experience, AFDI, the creative batting average, and the challenge of making News Fix credible and compelling. People, Places, Products, and References Mentioned:People Lee Abrams Buzz Bennett Henry Ford Chris Squire Jon Anderson Bill Wax B.B. King Ted Nugent Barbra Streisand Stanley Kubrick Projects & Organizations Original MAKE IT episode with Lee Abrams (2021) CelebrityAccess NewsFix XM Satellite Radio Tribune Company WQAM WLS Yes The Onion Concepts & Technology Album-oriented rock (AOR) AM radio / FM radio IBM servers Spotify AI-generated content Places & Cultural References The Midwest Metallica Chicago Symphony Orchestra 2001: A Space Odyssey Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-make-it-podcast--7516419/support . We’re humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work, and your support makes it all possible. If you want to go deeper, join the MAKE IT Academy. Members get 200+ courses on screenwriting, acting, producing, directing, and film financing, plus members-only perks, discounts, and a bi-weekly newsletter with exclusive grants and film programs. Memberships start at $9.99/month, and you can gift one to a fellow filmmaker. Join here: https://themakeitpodcast.com/pages/academy Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT

October 16, 20261 hr 49 min

448 - 25 Years After 9/11: The Doc Narrated by Gary Sinise | Michael Gier on Losing Everything and Starting Over at 40

This episode is brought to you by http://storyblocks.com/makeit ! Storyblocks is a 100% human-made stock media library that’s essential for creators with millions of professionally curated assets — footage, music, sound effects, templates, and images. Everything is pre-licensed and ready to use under one subscription.Head to http://storyblocks.com/makeit to access the human-made stock media library that’s essential to our workflow. For a limited time, get 15% OFF any annual plan! This episode is brought to you by MAKE IT Academy. Get access to 200+ courses today at https://themakeitpodcast.com/pages/academy and use code: ACADEMY50 for 50% off the Academy for a year! Hello, Hello! In this episode, filmmaker and former performer https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0317364/?ref_=fn_t_2 explains how he made his documentary https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21876766/?ref_=nm_knf_t_2. He shares stories of first responders, civilians, Flight 93, the boat lift, and rare footage from the Pentagon. The conversation also explores creative careers, rejection, film school, entrepreneurship, and what it means to MAKE IT. We also talk about: - The personal stories behind the documentary, including Will Jimeno’s rescue, the “Man in the Red Bandana,” and Lauren Grankolus’s voicemail. - Michael’s journey from theater and television to building Geier Productions after losing his real-estate business in the 2008 crash. - Lessons from Wounded Heroes, including Michael’s search for treatments that help people living with post-traumatic stress. - The “Praise You” video, the Torrance Community Dancers, Spike Jonze’s Richard Koufey persona, and the group’s three MTV Video Music Awards. - Michael’s advice on versatility, business skills, collaboration, learning by doing, and staying grounded through career setbacks. People, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned:People — Show & Family https://www.gierproductions.com/Terri Gier People — 9/11 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_JimenoScott Strauss (NYPD ESU)Sgt. John McLoughlin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Airlines_Flight _93 & Jack Grandcolas https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welles _Crowther https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jules_and_G%C3%A9d%C3%A9on_NaudetPavel Hlava https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfgang_StaehleJude Koch People — Performers & Filmmakers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregory_Hineshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spike _Jonze https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sofia_Coppolahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Ford_Coppolahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Newtonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elton_Johnhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deidre_Hallhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louie_Andersonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zach_Galifianakishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary _Sinise https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Pennhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Nolanhttps://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000759/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Damonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_Cagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Shorthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Madden People — Other Public Figures https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burt_Reynoldshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clint_Eastwoodhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brad_Pitthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Cruisehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Anistonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Claude_Van_Dammehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vin_Dieselhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Hiltonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_Paulhttps://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/article/netflixs-untold-series-to-drop-new-documentary-on-the-daejon-love49ers-scandal-040722923.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orson_Welleshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Hitchcockhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevie_Ray_Vaughanhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Van_Halenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Claptonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Framptonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Rockhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eminemhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricky_Martinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Smith Groups & Characters https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praise_Youhttps://www.gunsnroses.com/https://korn.com/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keeping_Up_with_the_Kardashianshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coming_to_Americahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiminy _Glick Projects https://heroismandresiliency.com/https://filmfreeway.com/WoundedHeroeshttps://www.gierproductions.com/healing -heroes https://www.gierproductions.com/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torrance_Riseshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praise_Youhttps://www.themakeitpodcast.com/ TV & Film https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunset_Beach_(TV_series)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Days_of_Our_Liveshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baskets_(TV_series)https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093779/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tombstone_(film)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Matrixhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bourne_Identity_(2002_film)https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33764258/ Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-make-it-podcast--7516419/support . We’re humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work, and your support makes it all possible. If you want to go deeper, join the MAKE IT Academy. Members get 200+ courses on screenwriting, acting, producing, directing, and film financing, plus members-only perks, discounts, and a bi-weekly newsletter with exclusive grants and film programs. Memberships start at $9.99/month, and you can gift one to a fellow filmmaker. Join here: https://themakeitpodcast.com/pages/academy Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT

October 13, 202615 min

SUMMARIES - Julius Ritter - The Permissionless Revolution & When Zero Dollars Isn’t Zero Vision

We are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters. So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating, or giving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT https://themakeitpodcast.store/newsletter Hello, Hello!In this episode, AI Hosts Alex Ivey and Allison Inverness explore Julius Ritter’s evolution from biracial child and working actor to independent writer-director. The conversation examines permissionless work, zero-budget filmmaking, creative solitude, and the search for timeless artistic themes. It is essential listening for filmmakers who want to build original work without waiting for industry approval. We also talk about: How being labeled can lead an artist to invent new worlds and identities. Why Ritter paused Sock and Buskin to pursue a $100,000 GoFundMe. The relationship between casting debates, colorism, representation, and working artists’ livelihoods. Why internet slang can date a screenplay while universal themes remain accessible. How solitude prepares a creative blueprint before collaboration brings it to life. People, Places, Products, and References Mentioned:People Julius Charles Ritter (also on TMDB ) Terry Jingles Rob Reiner Quentin Tarantino William Shakespeare Soulja Boy Acting Credits Gap (Gap Kids) CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Like Mike Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life The Master of Disguise His Own Films Sock & Buskin Sock and Buskin Film Fund (GoFundMe) Mr. MiseryAmericana, White Sheets What Did Deborah Do? Organizations & Platforms Ford Models GoFundMe Mammoth Film Festival References & Places Looney Tunes Sock and buskin Hollywood Los Angeles Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-make-it-podcast--7516419/support . We’re humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work, and your support makes it all possible. If you want to go deeper, join the MAKE IT Academy. Members get 200+ courses on screenwriting, acting, producing, directing, and film financing, plus members-only perks, discounts, and a bi-weekly newsletter with exclusive grants and film programs. Memberships start at $9.99/month, and you can gift one to a fellow filmmaker. Join here: https://themakeitpodcast.com/pages/academy Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT

October 9, 202642 min

Bonus Episode: 48 Hour Film Project Winner Allison Alonzo on How to Make a Film in 48 Hours

This episode is brought to you by MAKE IT Academy. Get access to 200+ courses today at https://themakeitpodcast.com/pages/academy and use code: ACADEMY50 for 50% off the Academy for a year! Hello, Hello! In this episode, Allison Alonso explains how she led her first 48 Hour Film Project as a director and won with Falling Short. She breaks down the competition’s strict rules, the creative decisions behind the film, and the practical realities of making a short film in 48 hours. The conversation also explores filmmaking careers, crew leadership, food on set, film influences, and what it means to make it. We also talk about: How the 48 Hour Film Project assigns the same prop, required phrase, and character details to every team. Why Allison chose fantasy over dystopia/utopia and how the team made a tomato work at a gas station location. The importance of feeding a crew, from Mexican bowls at lunch to Hunts Brothers pizza at 2 a.m. How a production team can protect a story’s twist by listening to actors and department heads during shooting. Why Allison sees the project as a return to film after taking a job at Vanderbilt University for stability, health insurance, paid time off, and a break from the industry. People, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned: Falling Short Raiders of the Lost Ark E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Jaws Short Circuit Napoleon Dynamite Barbie Tenet The Green Knight Black Knight Coming to America Food & Brands Hunt Brothers Pizza Domino’s Gabby’s Burgers & Fries Emmy Squared Big Mac Superica Pizookie People Allison Alonzo EmElise Knapp Martin Lawrence Steven Spielberg Jordan ChateauConnor BaconSeth ShepardJones KolbinskiJake Gilbert Mariah Kramer Alfonso Ribeiro Tia A. Smith Schools Vanderbilt University Belmont University Carnegie Mellon University Film Events & Organizations Nashville Film Festival 48 Hour Film Project — Nashville Filmapalooza Point of VU Film Festival (POVU) — Vanderbilt’s student festival Places & Venues Dallas, Texas Burbank, California Mexico City Zanies Nashville The Gulch Green Hills Flamingo Cocktail Club Cledis We are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters. So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating, or giving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT https://themakeitpodcast.store/newsletter Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-make-it-podcast--7516419/support . We’re humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work, and your support makes it all possible. If you want to go deeper, join the MAKE IT Academy. Members get 200+ courses on screenwriting, acting, producing, directing, and film financing, plus members-only perks, discounts, and a bi-weekly newsletter with exclusive grants and film programs. Memberships start at $9.99/month, and you can gift one to a fellow filmmaker. Join here: https://themakeitpodcast.com/pages/academy Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT

October 2, 20261 hr 54 min

447 - What Money Can’t Fix on a Film Set, Why People Need People, and Creative Sets, AI, and Staying Weird - Nichole Marie Lim

This episode is brought to you by MAKE IT Academy. Get access to 200+ courses today at https://themakeitpodcast.com/pages/academy and use code: ACADEMY50 for 50% off the Academy for a year! Hello, Hello! In this episode, we speak with Nashville filmmaker Nicole Marie Lim about building a career across makeup, writing, producing, and directing. Nicole explains how supportive relationships, practical set skills, and respectful leadership shape better creative work. The conversation also examines AI, vertical video, mid-budget filmmaking, actor chemistry, and what it means to make it without losing the joy of creating. We also talk about: How makeup artists can prepare for their first professional set. Why continuity, schedules, and department-specific language matter. The limits of glamour, fame, and money in filmmaking. Why directors should trust department heads and communicate according to individual needs. How chemistry reads can reveal unexpected casting choices. People, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned:People Nichole Marie Lim (also IMDb ) Joy ToddDavid LimMichelle Lim John August Craig Mazin Jim Henson J.K. Simmons Brad Pitt David Ayer Stephen Norrington Tim Burton Christopher Nolan Zendaya Robert Pattinson Milla Jovovich Viola Davis Brands & Products My Kit Co RCMA Makeup Senna Cosmetics Listerine Altoids Her ProjectsCheckmate, The Way Back Down, Mom Cult, American Quilt Contest Films Holland (2025) Blade The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen The Migrant Marie Antoinette Amélie Romeo + Juliet The Sound of Music The Expendables 2 Sinners The 'Burbs Poor Things The Odyssey Oppenheimer Grizzly Man Jaws Alien A Week Away Places & Institutions Nashville Ohio New York Amsterdam Mumbai Nashville Film Festival Frist Art Museum MAKE IT Make It Academy Mastering Film Marketing (e-book) The MAKE IT Podcast We are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters. So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating, or giving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT www.themakeitpodcast.store/shop/support Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-make-it-podcast--7516419/support . We’re humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work, and your support makes it all possible. If you want to go deeper, join the MAKE IT Academy. Members get 200+ courses on screenwriting, acting, producing, directing, and film financing, plus members-only perks, discounts, and a bi-weekly newsletter with exclusive grants and film programs. Memberships start at $9.99/month, and you can gift one to a fellow filmmaker. Join here: https://themakeitpodcast.com/pages/academy Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT

September 29, 202621 min

SUMMARIES - Keith McDaniel - How he made "The Clinton 12," Cast James Earl Jones, and Why Local Beats Bigger

We are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters. So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating, or giving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEITSubscribe: https://themakeitpodcast.store/shop/support Hello, Hello!In this episode, AI Hosts Alex Ivey and Allison Inverness examine Keith McDaniel’s path from singer, designer, and scriptwriter to documentary filmmaker and community leader. They explore how he learned filmmaking without formal training, documented complex Tennessee history, and built a sustainable local film festival. The conversation also connects creative independence with health, discipline, and the possibility that starting late can mean starting prepared. We also talk about: How a poor first documentary can still reveal the right creative medium. Why interviewing original Oakridgers preserved primary historical testimony. How James Earl Jones added credibility and distribution power to The Clinton 12. Why Keith treated 40 film festivals as research laboratories rather than applause tours. How the seven-day shootout created audience ownership through participation. People, Places, Products, and References Mentioned: Keith McDaniel (also IMDb ) James Earl Jones Ken Burns Films & Projects The Clinton 12 Secret City: The Oak Ridge Story The Belmont Reasons Companies & OrganizationsSecret City Films Secret City Film Festival Knoxville Film Festival Dogwood Arts Discovery Jupiter Entertainment eBay Motel 6 Places Oak Ridge, Tennessee Roane County, Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee Regal Downtown West Cinema 8 History & Concepts Brown v. Board of Education Manhattan Project VHS Slow-carb diet Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-make-it-podcast--7516419/support . We’re humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work, and your support makes it all possible. If you want to go deeper, join the MAKE IT Academy. Members get 200+ courses on screenwriting, acting, producing, directing, and film financing, plus members-only perks, discounts, and a bi-weekly newsletter with exclusive grants and film programs. Memberships start at $9.99/month, and you can gift one to a fellow filmmaker. Join here: https://themakeitpodcast.com/pages/academy Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT

September 18, 20261 hr 34 min

446 - Isabel Hagen on Making 'On a String', Winning Tribeca, Cancel Culture, and Surviving Stand‑Up

This episode is brought to you by Anthropic. Claude is the AI for minds that don’t stop at good enough—it's the collaborator that actually understands your entire workflow and thinks WITH you, not for you. Ready to tackle bigger problems? Sign up for Claude Pro when you use our link – www.claude.ai/makeit This episode is brought to you by our e-book Mastering Film Marketing. Get your copy today at https://themakeitpodcast.com/products/mastering-film-marketing . Use the Discount code: NASHFILM20 for 20% off EVERYTHING at themakeitpodcast.com Hello, Hello! In this episode, Isabel Hagen joins us to discuss her work as a comedian, filmmaker, and classically trained violist. She explains how her freelance music career inspired the feature film On a String, which premiered at Tribeca and won Best Screenplay in the U.S. Narrative Competition. The conversation also explores comedy in the age of clips, creative persistence, protecting real people in fiction, film criticism, artistic identity, and what it means to make it. We also talk about: Turning experiences from weddings, funerals, and private music gigs into heightened comedic characters and situations. Why live comedy benefits from audiences putting their phones away while performers test unfinished material. Isabel’s process for becoming a stronger comedian through open mics, recordings, repeated performance, and daily review. The creative lessons she draws from Paul Thomas Anderson, including the scale of One Battle After Another and the score of Phantom Thread. How nostalgia, streaming overload, and the paradox of choice influence how audiences rewatch their favorite movies. People, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned: People Isabel Hagen ( isabelhagen.com ) Brandon Tamburri William Primrose Paul Thomas Anderson Maria Bamford Marina Abramović Lana Del Rey Films & TV On a String The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon One Battle After Another Phantom Thread Happiness The Omen The Parent Trap Goodfellas Challengers Saltburn It's a Wonderful Life The Princess Bride Ferris Bueller's Day Off The NeverEnding Story The Dukes of Hazzard Companies & Organizations Joke Zero Tribeca Film Festival The Juilliard School NBC Symphony Orchestra Hollywood Walk of Fame Nashville Film Festival Substack Soho House Music Guns N' Roses "Welcome to the Jungle" Food & Places LaGuardia Airport Seattle 7th Street Burger Shake Shack Beecher's Handmade Cheese The Capital Grille MAKE IT Make It Academy Mastering Film Marketing (e-book) We are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters. So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating, or giving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT www.themakeitpodcast.store/shop/support Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-make-it-podcast--7516419/support . We’re humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work, and your support makes it all possible. If you want to go deeper, join the MAKE IT Academy. Members get 200+ courses on screenwriting, acting, producing, directing, and film financing, plus members-only perks, discounts, and a bi-weekly newsletter with exclusive grants and film programs. Memberships start at $9.99/month, and you can gift one to a fellow filmmaker. Join here: https://themakeitpodcast.com/pages/academy Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT

September 16, 202611 min

Film Brief - Who Is Stan Smith? - The Man Behind the Three Stripes

WHAT IS FILM BRIEF?Blending journalism with artistry, Film Brief transforms film analysis into an engaging and informative listening experience. The goal is to reveal what makes each movie or series resonate—on screen and behind the scenes. For listeners, it’s not just a review; it’s an exploration of the art of filmmaking. BRIEF:In this episode, Nick reviews Who Is Stan Smith? , Danny Lee’s documentary about the tennis champion whose name became attached to one of the world’s most recognizable sneakers. The film moves from athletic achievement and fashion history to Stan Smith’s friendship with Arthur Ashe, humanitarian work, and commitment to players’ rights. The conversation ultimately asks what kind of signature each person leaves behind when fame and branding are stripped away. TAKEAWAYS: Smith’s rise from Southern California and USC tennis to former world number one. His 1971 U.S. Open victory, 1972 Wimbledon victory, five U.S. Open titles across singles and doubles, and eight championship Davis Cup teams. The open era of professional tennis and the movement for greater player control. Smith’s 1973 Wimbledon boycott after Nikola Pilic was suspended. The sneaker’s adoption by musicians, artists, designers, and fashion communities. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:The Film Who Is Stan Smith? Danny Lee Rebecca Halpern People Stan Smith Arthur Ashe John McEnroe Darryl "DMC" McDaniels Pharrell Williams Niki Pilić Products & Brands Adidas Stan Smith Run-DMC Institutions & Events University of Southern California US Open Wimbledon Davis Cup Ebook: "Mastering Film Marketing" The MAKE IT Podcast We are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters. So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating us, or leaving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT All Links: www.themakeitpodcast.store/shop/support Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-make-it-podcast--7516419/support . We’re humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work, and your support makes it all possible. If you want to go deeper, join the MAKE IT Academy. Members get 200+ courses on screenwriting, acting, producing, directing, and film financing, plus members-only perks, discounts, and a bi-weekly newsletter with exclusive grants and film programs. Memberships start at $9.99/month, and you can gift one to a fellow filmmaker. Join here: https://themakeitpodcast.com/pages/academy Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT