

The No Film School Podcast
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 interview leaders in screenwriting, directing, cinematography, editing, and producing. And we answer your questions! We are dedicated to sharing knowledge with filmmakers around the globe, “no film school” required.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 23, 2021 • 52min
IATSE’s New Contract
Today’s episode sees the return of Good Deal, Bad Deal, along with other important industry and tech news!In this episode, we talk about...
How the union IATSE has been threatening to go on strike to get a living wage for everyone and better meal and rest breaks - but instead of a strike, a deal was just reached.
Why many feel IATSE should have gone on strike since they had the leverage to do so.
The particulars of the deal that was reached, what they mean, and whether or not the deal is “good” or “bad”.
The case for an 8-hour work day in the film industry.
How a negotiation isn’t over until it’s over, and IATSE could still ask for more changes.
How Apple has released their new Macbook Pro and a discussion of this computer’s exciting new features.
What the new Macbook Pro means for work-life balance.
A discussion about the best gear to use for remote recording and livestream setups.
Links to Resources:Please like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/nofilmschoolSubscribe to our Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool Check us out on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool/ Ask us questions at editor@nofilmschool.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 19, 2021 • 46min
Justin Long, Christian Long, and Justin Chon for 'Lady of the Manor' and 'Blue Bayou'
Tune in for a discussion about two great movies with three great guests - some of whom are actors who have now moved behind the camera!In this episode, we talk about...
Why Justin Chon decided to star in his movie, even though he didn’t initially set out to.
How Justin Chon creates a safe and open environment on set, how he works with his DPs, and other insights into his process.
How Justin Chon chose and secured his co-star.
The challenges of working with children.
How Justin Chon went about researching the issue at the crux of Blue Bayou.
How Lady of the Manor came about and how Christian and Justin created its “odd couple” style comedy.
The similarities to the play Blithe Spirit and how the writers just may have been inspired by it!
The rather surprising choice to write this type of comedy script for women!
How they approached the directing process for Lady of the Manor.
Why keeping the plot simple can be really key in comedies.
Links to Resources:Lady of the Manor - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11826450/ Blue Bayou - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11121664/ Please like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/nofilmschoolSubscribe to our Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool Check us out on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool/ Ask us questions at editor@nofilmschool.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 15, 2021 • 1h
Should You Pay For Script Coverage?
Get ready for a deep dive into script coverage, whether or not you should pay for it, and which platforms are best for it.In this episode, we talk about...
What script coverage is and why a writer might want to hire a coverage service.
Price points for different script coverage services and what those prices might include.
What script coverage can lead to (there are success stories) versus what your odds of success from the services are.
A script coverage experiment trying three different services - linked below.
How subjective Hollywood is and why you need to learn which notes to take and which to ignore.
How Canon, surprisingly, just dropped a brand-new, dual fish-eye VR lens.
How the new James Bond movie, No Time to Die, is out now and is proving to have a lot of filmmaking lessons for us all.
The interesting push and pull between making a James Bond movie stay true to the originals and still be appropriate for today’s modern world.
Amazon’s new involvement in the James Bond franchise.
Whether or not we’ll ever see a female or BIPOC Bond.
Links to Resources:Script Coverage Experiment - https://nofilmschool.com/screenplay-coverage-services Please like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/nofilmschoolSubscribe to our Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool Check us out on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool/ Ask us questions at editor@nofilmschool.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 13, 2021 • 42min
Fuqua, Gyllenhaal, and Melfi on THE GUILTY and THE STARLING
Antoine Fuqua and Jake Gyllenhaal discuss the surprising results of filming in COVID confined spaces and Theodore Melfi shares his experience of writing and going for the yes... In this episode, we talk about…
The challenge of creating a film with limited space and characters
How shifting the story to Los Angeles changed Fuqua’s approach to the film
How the pandemic impacted production and why directors and actors must always have complete trust with each other
Why you have to trust in the magic of filming
How Kevin Melfi went from working at an Italian cafe to making feature films
The difference between lying vs. saying yes
Remembering how simple filmmaking can be—six simple shots!
How Kevin learned to direct and communicate with actors by studying them in acting classes
Advice for raising money to fund a film and how filmmaking is more accessible
Kevin’s journey as a writer and why he believes directors and filmmakers need the skill to write
Screenplay books, guidelines and how Kevin operates when writing a film
Links to Resources:Turn Cheap Miniatures Into Awesome Visual Effectshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMuf2bHdGrYSubscribe to our newsletter for news, contests, deals, and a FREE ebook at https://nofilmschool.com/screenwritingbook. Check out our new video on lighting night shoots: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J66WWsCp7XE You can read about all this and more at https://nofilmschool.com/. You can also check out our Gear Guides and Entertainment News on the right hand side.Please like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check us out on Instagram!Ask us questions at editor@nofilmschool.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 8, 2021 • 23min
Bond is Back And We're Chatting With No Time To Die's Visual Wizards
This mini bonus episode features two awesome guests who both worked on the new James Bond film, Linus Sandgren the cinematographer, and Chris Corbould the special effects supervisor.In this episode, we talk about...
How the process went shooting the movie on film and how they chose which sections to film differently for IMAX.
Setting the mood for different scenes by carefully choosing the filming location.
Behind the scenes thoughts about some of the really cool shots in the film.
How the team approached shooting close-ups for so many different actors, from a technical standpoint.
Links to Resources:No Time to Die - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2382320/ iPhone 13 Review - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXUENXWD_gw Please like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/nofilmschoolSubscribe to our Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool Check us out on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool/ Ask us questions at editor@nofilmschool.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 7, 2021 • 54min
STRIKE! And Russians in Space... With Cameras?
Lots of big and exciting news in the film industry this week, including the recent strike authorization vote by IATSE!In this episode, we talk about...
IATSE, the union representing thousands of TV and film employees, has authorized a strike to gain equal pay for new media (such as streaming services), higher bottom rates for living wages, and adequate rest breaks.
How the resounding “Yes” vote for the strike got negotiations to start moving again.
The support and solidarity that’s been seen in the film community about the strike - but how much are these supporters putting their money where their mouth is?
Thoughts on the roles of unions, pay scales for different positions in the industry, how this all affects producers, and more.
How Russia sent a film crew to space to shoot a movie at the International Space Station!
Exciting news regarding the iPhone 13’s camera’s LiDAR capabilities.
An Ask No Film School question regarding how we can help support the IATSE strike, if it happens.
Links to Resources:Please like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/nofilmschoolSubscribe to our Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool Check us out on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool/ Ask us questions at editor@nofilmschool.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 5, 2021 • 36min
Sara Colangelo Tells The Truth in 'Worth'
Today’s topic is a recent film that does a great job with one of the trickiest types of stories to tell in film-making - true stories which the audience is already familiar with.In this episode, we talk about...
The timing for the film’s release, and all the ways that makes it more poignant.
The process for bringing the film to Sundance, then making a deal with Netflix, and then adding high-profile backers like the Obamas.
Sara’s career as a writer and director.
How she got involved with this project, how 9/11 impacted her, and how she brought her experiences in post-9/11 NYC to the film.
How Sara likes to change genres and experiment with her range, and how she is able to land a variety of films to work on.
Ways Sara simplifies her cerebral thought process to communicate directions to actors.
Choices Sara made as she was deciding how to film the movie and the types of cameras used.
What Sara is currently writing and other ideas she has in the pipeline.
The cultural shift that happened after 9/11 and how it even impacted the kinds of movies being made.
Sara’s advice for new filmmakers - which is to only take projects you’re excited about!
Links to Resources:Worth - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8009744/ Please like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/nofilmschoolSubscribe to our Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool Check us out on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool/ Ask us questions at editor@nofilmschool.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 30, 2021 • 47min
What Does the Huge CAA News Mean For You?
What does the Big Four becoming the Big Three mean for filmmakers? Will IATSE’s potential strike really change the underpaid long hours of film production? And news about Aputure’s new bright light... In this episode, we talk about…
Details about the merger between CAA and ICM
What challenges indie filmmakers may face because of the merger
The minor bright side of the merger for streaming services
What the merger means for future WGA or union negotiations
A refresher on packaging and understanding the current state of packaging
The dystopian Wild West of Hollywood and what the Solidarity Slate fails to address
IATSE’s impending strike and the evolution of filmmaking work days
Aputure’s launch of the Light Storm 1200d Pro LED light
Links to Resources:Solidarity Slate: https://www.solidarityslate.com/ IATSE: https://iatse.net/ Turn Cheap Miniatures Into Awesome Visual Effectshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMuf2bHdGrYSubscribe to our newsletter for news, contests, deals, and a FREE ebook at https://nofilmschool.com/screenwritingbook. Check out our new video on lighting night shoots: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J66WWsCp7XE You can read about all this and more at https://nofilmschool.com/. You can also check out our Gear Guides and Entertainment News on the right hand side.Please like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check us out on Instagram!Ask us questions at editor@nofilmschool.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 29, 2021 • 38min
How Two Friends Turned an Inside Joke into a Feature Film
Patricia Gomez and Elza Kephat share the 15-year journey that led to their new horror film SLAXX.In this episode, we talk about…
Collaboration and splitting the writing and production processes
Hospital booze and graveyard zombies
The arts and sciences of the film industry
Patricia and Elza’s experience with perfecting and performing their pitch
Letting intuition vs. intellect guide you in filmmaking
The intention behind focusing on fast fashion in Slaxx
What’s next for Patricia and Elza
Links to Resources:Turn Cheap Miniatures Into Awesome Visual Effectshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMuf2bHdGrYSubscribe to our newsletter for news, contests, deals, and a FREE ebook at https://nofilmschool.com/screenwritingbook. Check out our new video on lighting night shoots: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J66WWsCp7XE You can read about all this and more at https://nofilmschool.com/. You can also check out our Gear Guides and Entertainment News on the right-hand side.Please like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check us out on Instagram!Ask us questions at editor@nofilmschool.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 24, 2021 • 39min
Ed Burns Shares the Art of Indie Film Compromise
Guest Ed Burns is one of a very small number of filmmakers who have been in the thick of the Indie film scene since the 90s and he has invaluable knowledge to share.In this episode, we talk about...
Ed’s film Summer Days, Summer Nights and how his childhood helped inspire it.
How Ed selected the eclectic music for the film’s soundtrack.
Compromises that need to be made to keep the budget low for Indie films, what cannot be compromised on, and how Ed decides between the two.
Why Indie filmmakers need the skillset of being able to make last minute changes to accommodate schedule and budget.
Ed’s creative process as a writer and how he identifies the good ideas.
How Ed is able to make sure his work is up to par when he’s wearing multiple hats - like writer, director, and actor - all on the same project.
Links to Resources:Summer Days, Summer Nights - https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Days-Nights-Pico-Alexander/dp/B09CZCS82R Please like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/nofilmschoolSubscribe to our Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool Check us out on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool/ Ask us questions at editor@nofilmschool.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


