The No Film School Podcast

Luke Greenfield was a young boy with big dreams who wanted to make movies just like his hero Steven Spielberg. His concerned mother writes an impassioned letter to the big man himself, and Mr. Spielberg responded with an encouraging letter. Two decades later, Greenfield grows up to direct The Girl Next Door and guess who's a major fan? Greenfield's story is a heartwarming one, but it's not without its tragedy and realism. He goes in depth on his grueling experience (sort of) directing The Animal with Rob Schneider and his struggles to be taken seriously in the industry as a young voice. Greenfield's goal as a filmmaker is to make you not only laugh hysterically, but to feel. His latest achievement, Half Brothers, hits theaters this Friday, December 4th. Don't miss this lively and honest conversation!If you want to hear more success stories about makers of unconventional comedy movies, check out our interview with the creators of Palm Springs.Please email us any questions at ask@nofilmschool.com!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Climb is one of the biggest indie breakouts of 2020. The debut feature from filmmaking-and-acting duo Michael Angelo Covino and Kyle Marvin played every major film festival you can think of before finally hitting theaters this holiday season. Michael and Kyle sit down with NFS founder Ryan Koo to talk about how they pulled off a buddy comedy made up entirely of long oners; the underutilized power of sound editing; and of course, the benefits of having a death metal ballerino as your dolly grip. They also go in depth on a very, very ballsy stunt done by Kyle, and the thrill of not only taking the film to Cannes, but winning a Jury Prize. The Climb is out now in theaters. Enjoy!Please email us any questions at ask@nofilmschool.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does the new deal struck between Cinemark and Universal mean for the industry? How can movie-goers support theaters while they are closed?Also, this just in: Quentin Tarantino writes books (including a novelization of Once Upon A Time in Hollywood)?? In Tech News, we share our hands-on experience with the new Apple Silicon. For Ask No Film School: what is the best entry-level cinema camera to invest in for music videos and corporate work? And lastly, our theme for Deep Cuts is thanksgiving and gratitude. We hope you enjoy... and Happy Thanksgiving! Please email us any questions at ask@nofilmschool.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Phedon Papamichael's career as a cinematographer goes back to the 80's, but he's still a go-to DP for the best filmmakers in the business. You might call him an “actor’s cinematographer” or a stylistic chameleon. Phedon talks about his approach to the craft: rather than trying to put his visual stamp on a movie, his goal is to serve the story and overall vision. He compares his experiences working with Alexander Payne, George Clooney, Aaron Sorkin and James Mangold -- and what it was like juggling the massive personalities on the set of Sorkin's The Trial of the Chicago 7. Phedon and recalls his early days shooting stripper-centered B-movies under Roger Corman’s tutelage — with Wally Pfister and Janusz Kaminski as his camera crew. This is a masterclass in what it means to be an A-list cinematographer. Don't miss this one: Phedon is the man.Please email us any questions or comments at ask@nofilmschool.com!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Though her most recent triumph is the highly-praised Netflix miniseries The Queen's Gambit, Michelle Tesoro has built a career working with A-list showrunners and directors, within both film and television. From mastering the art of the dialog scene with the HBO series In Treatment, to her collaborations with luminaries like Michael Mann, David Fincher, Ava DuVernay, Mimi Leder and David Milch, she has plenty of stories to tell. Tesero managed to navigate the exact career she wanted and has plenty of wisdom to impart, like why sometimes saying no to projects is even more important than saying yes. We hope you enjoy!More post-production and Queen’s Gambit related goodies here: Cinematic Legend Walter Murch on Editing and Sound Design Here’s What’s New in DaVinci Resolve 17 How Does ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ Create Conflict Without Words? Please email us any questions or comments at ask@nofilmschool.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eric Roth spent much of this year doing significant rewrites to the script of the upcoming Martin Scorsese film, Killers of the Flower Moon. The biggest notes came from co-star Leonardo DiCaprio. On this week's NoFilmSchool, we talk about why the actor chose to play a different role in the movie and is taking the story in a slightly different direction. For Tech News, we give you the lowdown on a new, exciting 4k camera: the Sony FX6. For Ask No Film School, we talk about the do's and don'ts of "greeking." And in honor's of Scorsese's recent birthday: our favorite of the director's movies for this week's Deep Cuts!More about the Sony FX6 here: Sony's FX6 is a 4K Shooter's Wet Dream Early Sony FX6 Reviews Are In--Watch 'Em Now How Does the New Sony FX6 Stack Up Against the Popular FX9? Please email us any questions or comments at ask@nofilmschool.com!*Editorial note: 'Up in the Air' does not star Denzel Washington. Charles meant 'Flight'. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After serving as a second unit director of photography on movies like The Matrix Trilogy and Dark City, Ross Emery was tapped to be one of the key cinematographers on the new series Raised By Wolves, where he got to work with one of his all-time film heroes: Ridley Scott. In fact, it was Scott's 1982 classic Blade Runner that made Emery fall in love with movies as visual art. Emery regales us with stories that you don't want to miss, everything from working with the Wachowskis and the incredible team they assembled, to the madness of The Island of Dr. Moreau. (Yes, he was on that set, too.) Emery's style and approach are distinct and he's been around the block, so pull up a chair and listen.Check out more interviews with great DP's: David Fincher's Longtime DP Jeff Cronenweth Has Advice, Insight, and Stories 'Lovecraft Country' DP Michael Watson On Shooting During COVID-19 Darren Aronofsky's Rockstar DP Matthew Libatique Talks Career and 'Requiem For a Dream' Anniversary Please email us any questions or comments at ask@nofilmschool.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Producer/star Malin Akerman has had a wide-ranging career, having worked with everyone from the Farrelly Brothers to Zack Snyder on the largest scale projects as well as smaller indies. Recently she made the leap into producing her own films. Malin talks about what she looks for in a screenplay, and how finding that “third door” helps you break into the industry. She also explains the trials, challenges, and survival mode of making in Hollywood. Her new Chick Fight is out now.Check out more podcast interviews with filmmakers here: You Need to Know the Miracle of 'The Peanut Butter Falcon' No One Gives a Sh*t About Max Barbakow and Andy Siara, Creators of 'Palm Springs' 'Over The Moon' Director Glen Keane Uncovers The Secret Sauce of Story Please email us any questions or comments at ask@nofilmschool.com!*Editorial note: we apologize for occasional background noise in Malin's audio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's No Film School Podcast, Charles Haine and George Edelman gaze into their crystal ball once again and speculate how the new wave of coronavirus might affect set life. We also offer a trifecta of Tech News updates: a Sony drone, Teradek's autofocus system for cinema lenses and DaVinci Resolve 17's many perks and innovations. In honor of Veteran’s Day, we give you our favorite Deep Cuts about war veterans.Read more here: Jason Blum Says COVID-19 Has Changed Making Movies Forever Speed Up Your Edit with the New DaVinci Resolve Speed Editor Blackmagic's New Fairlight Desktop Console Makes Mixing Sound Easier *Editorial note: The Best Years of Our Lives is not 3.5 hours, it is under three hours! Let nothing stop you from watching this masterpiece. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kami Asgar and Jessica Parks are post-production heavyweights who work with major studios, namely Sony. As a sound designer (Asgar) and as a post executive (Parks), their collective resume touches on everything from Apocalypto to Grandma's Boy to Venom. Parks has recently shifted her focus from supervisor to hands-on sound design, and we talk about how it’s never too late to pivot on your career path and find thing you love doing wherever you are in life. We also talk about the new revolutionary technology that will democratize the ability to mix sound on a professional level... and why the literal size of your ear matters.If you're in the mood for more sound talk, learn from the master: our exclusive interview with Walter Murch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices