

Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie Filmmaking
Liz Manashil & Alrik Bursell
Liz Manashil and Alrik Bursell discuss independent filmmaking, everything from writing, producing and directing to working as crew. But this is not just a podcast about "making it," it's also about struggling with rejection, self-doubt and everything else that comes with pursuing a career in film. Follow along as we forge our own way through the industry and talk to guests who are also making it happen.
Episodes 238-299 are available at our patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Episodes 238-299 are available at our patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 18, 2025 • 43min
Asif Akbar - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 352 from January 2022 featuring producer, writer and director Asif Akbar. I thought this was a good match for our episode with Kenny Beaumont from Monday because they both produce and direct narrative features. After that we play another round of You’re the expert, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon!
www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts!
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.

Sep 15, 2025 • 55min
Kenny Beaumont - Producing Family Movies Full Time and Directing F+!
This week we welcome writer/director/producer Kenny Beaumont on the show to talk about how he got his first feature F+ made and funded, his days producing dog movies and how he made his way to working on movies full time. After that we play another round of THE GAME and talk about the current statuses of our projects, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.

Sep 11, 2025 • 56min
Theo Brown - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 463 from February 2024 with filmmaker Theo Brown who talks about making his first feature indie sci-feature on a low budget and how he casted the film. I thought this was a good match for Lincoln from Monday because both their features were low budget sci-fi films which they kinda did on their own with really small crews. After that we play another round of You’re the expert, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.

Sep 8, 2025 • 47min
Lincoln Fenner - Turning a Profit on a Indie Sci-Fi Feature Before the Release!
This week we welcome filmmaker Lincoln Fenner who is based in Australia to talk about his indie sci-fi feature Time Rewind which made it’s budget back before it was released on digital. It’s just me on the show today so no The Game but I’m going to talk a bit about where I am at with my next feature and my current projects, read a brand new review of the show and read an email from a listener, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952
Watch Time Rewind on Apple TV
https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/time-rewind/umc.cmc.1n7eg6cqbjlle1odhd4yhwbgf
Watch Time Rewind on Amazon Prime
https://www.amazon.com/Time-Rewind-Lincoln-Fenner/dp/B0DJSTJ3DQ
Other ways to watch Time Rewind, listen to the soundtrack, leave a movie review or buy movie merch at:
https://linktr.ee/lincolnfenner Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.

Sep 4, 2025 • 1h 17min
Michael Molina - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 232 from October 2019 featuring writer Michael Molina who talks about being a tsaff writer on animated show The Casagraandes and making his first feature Trivia night back in 2016. Alrik thought this was a good match for our episode with Toby Jones from Monday because both Toby and Michael write in animation and also made their own indie features as well. After that we play another round of You’re the expert, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon!
www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts!
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.

Sep 1, 2025 • 1h 7min
Toby Jones - Creating an Imaginative No Budget Indie Comedy!
This week we welcome writer/director Toby Jones on the show to talk about his latest film AJ Goes to the Dog Park, which he made 100% independently out in Fargo North Dakota. After that we play another round of THE GAME, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.

Aug 28, 2025 • 49min
Larry Fessenden - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 315 from April 2021 with actor, writer and director Larry Fessenden who talked about acting alongside Barbara Crampton in Jakobs Wife. We felt that Larry was a good match for our episode with Macon Blair on Monday because they are both indie legends who write, director and act and I think it’s interesting to compare the differences and similarities of their stories. After that we play another round of THE GAME, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.

Aug 25, 2025 • 1h 10min
Macon Blair - Remaking the Cult Classic The Toxic Avenger!
This week we welcome indie film rockstar, actor, writer and director Macon Blair on the show to talk about writing and directing The Toxic Avenger Remake which releases in theaters this week! Macon also talks about the impact Blue Ruin had on his career and the circumstances that lead to him directing The Toxic Avenger! After that we play another round of Your the expert, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.

Aug 21, 2025 • 49min
Brian Helgeland - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 454 from December 2023 featuring writer and director Brian Helgeland who talks about making his latest feature Finestkind starring Ben Foster and Tommy Lee Jones.Alrik thought it would be fun to pair Brain with Chuck Russell from Monday because Brain also directed some really big and monumental movies in Alrik’s life from the 90s, namely Payback. After that we play another round of You’re the expert, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.

Aug 18, 2025 • 1h 1min
Chuck Russell - How to Approach Remaking a Horror Classic with Witchboard!
This week we welcome Writer, director Chuck Russell on the show to talk about remaking Witchboard as his latest feature, we also talk about his hayday as a director, getting to direct NIghtmare on Elmstreet 3, The Blob remake, The Mask and Eraser. After that we play another round of THE GAME, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.