

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

Oct 30, 2025 • 1h 4min
Jessica Ellis - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 287 from October 2020 featuring writer director Jessica Ellis. Alrik thought this was a good match for our episode with Nicola Rose from Monday because they are both female feature filmmakers, although Nicola talks to us about her 2nd feature, rather than her first.. 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
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Oct 28, 2025 • 51min
Nicola Rose - Getting Distribution on Feature #2!
This week we welcome writer/director Nicola Rose on the show to talk about the making of her second feature Magneto Sphere which came out this summer. 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
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Oct 23, 2025 • 53min
Jeff Kerr and Ray Spivey - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 315 from April 2021 with writers and directors Jeff Kerr and Ray Spivey to talk about the making of their brand new feature film, Writers Block and reconnecting after thirty years since they knew each other in high school to write, direct and produce their first feature later in life. Alrik thought this was a good match for our episode on Monday with Laurie Creigo because they both made their feature films after they were retired. 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.

Oct 20, 2025 • 58min
Laurie Criego - Making Filmmaking Dreams Real in Retirement!
This week we welcome writer and executive producer Lauire Criego on the show to talk about making her first feature Mother Nature and the Doomsday Prepper which she made 100% independently after she started writing films in her retirement. 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.

Oct 16, 2025 • 40min
Nyla Innuksuk - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 352 from January 2022 featuring filmmaker Nyla Innuksuk on the show to talk about her film slash/back which won the Grand Jury prize at SXSW. We talk with Nyla about making a sci-fi alien invasion feature in a completely remote town and we thought this was a good match for our episode with Alex Burunova on Monday because they both premiered their first features at SXSW. 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.

Oct 13, 2025 • 1h 3min
Alex Burunova - Taking the Time to Craft Your First Feature!
This week we welcome writer/director/producer Alex Burunova on the show to talk about how she got her first feature Satisfaction made, funded, getting to premier at SXSW and the long road she took to get the film made! 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.

Oct 10, 2025 • 1h 48min
Hassan Said - Briana Walsh - Jordan Potch - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 223 from August 2019 featuring filmmaker Writer director Hassan Said and Stars Briana Walsh and Jordan Potch days after they finished shooting their one take feature, This is Your Song. Alrik thought this was a good match for our episode from monday with J. Davis and Andre Hyland because this is the only other time I think we had a writer/director and the stars of the movie on the show together. 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.

Oct 6, 2025 • 60min
J. Davis and Andre Hyland - Making Feature #2 and the Actor/Director Relationship!
This week we welcome writer/director J Davis and Star Andre Hyland on the show to talk about the making of I Hate Myself and I Want to Die which premiered at the Austin Film Festival last fall, just about a year ago! Our producer extraordinaire Eric Toms conducted this interview from the Omni Hotel in Austin so it’s sure to be a good one. 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.

Oct 2, 2025 • 55min
Yoko Okumura - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 414 from March 2023 featuring writer director, Yoko Okumura! Alrik thought this was a good match for our episode with Mercedes Bryce Morgan from Monday because Yoko also started doing a ton of short content before making her first feature. 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 29, 2025 • 55min
Mercedes Bryce Morgan - From Short Content to Paid Feature Work!
This week we welcome writer/director Mercedes Bryce Morgan on the show to talk about her latest film Bone Lake, how she got the feature and her start doing paid short form content. 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
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