
Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie Filmmaking
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
Latest episodes

Jul 25, 2024 • 55min
Christopher Coppola - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 373 from May 2022 with director Christopher Coppola who talks about growing up in the Coppola Family, making his movies and how he helps to empower other filmmakers. I thought this was a good match for Robert Schwartzman because they both grew up in the Coppola family, both have famous actor brothers and both make their own indie films. 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

Jul 22, 2024 • 58min
Robert Schwartzman - Being a Rockstar, Filmmaker and Indie Film Distributor!
This week we welcome Producer, Director, Actor and rock star Robert Schwartzman on the show to talk about directing his latest feature, The Good Half, how he picks his films, growing up in a film family and how that background doesn’t always translate into making indie films. 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

Jul 18, 2024 • 59min
Edward Green - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 342 from October 2021 with director Edward Greenl who talks about raising the funds for his feature, and how he was able to use money shooting videos on the weekend to pay for the feature. Alrik thought this was a good match for Ben because they both made their movies on their own terms in their home towns and figured out how to raise the money themselves. After that we play another round of Your’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

Jul 15, 2024 • 1h 6min
Ben Stier - The Process of Making a Hometown Feature!
This week we welcome Writer Director Ben Stier on the show to talk about writing and directing his first feature film Girl Without End and how he raised the money and made it a shoestring budget in his hometown with a small crew. 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

Jul 11, 2024 • 1h 14min
Alex Ferrari - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 240 with Podcaster, Filmmaker and Filmtrapenuear Alex Ferrari who talks about how you can make your film profitable through self distribution and getting creative around the merchandising around the film, which I thought was a good match for Racheal and Maria because they talk a lot about self distribution and creating other revenue streams for their film. But stick around because 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

Jul 8, 2024 • 1h 13min
Racheal Cain and Maria Allred - Finishing Somnium After 16 Years and Saying No to Distributors!
This week we welcome writer/director Racheal Cain and Producer Maria All-red on the show to talk about the long journey making Racheal’s first feature Som-nee-um, which took her 16 years to make. 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

Jul 8, 2024 • 55min
Amber Sealey - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 299 from December 2020 with director Amber Sealey who talks about making her latest film No Man of God. Alrik thought that Amber was a great match for Liz because they both have kids and they both have figured out how to level up as a director. 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

Jul 1, 2024 • 1h 3min
Liz W. Garcia - Leveling Up to a Mid-Tier Budget for Feature #3!
This week we welcome Writer/Director Liz W Garcia on the show to talk about directing her latest feature, Space Cadet, how she made the jump from directing 1M dollar movies to a mid tier studio feature. 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

Jun 27, 2024 • 1h
Bruce McDonald - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 269 from June 2020 with director Bruce McDonald who talks about his filmmaking career and making his latest film at the time, Dreamland. I thought this was a good match for Matt because they are both true artists and very prolific and I think if Matt keeps making movies, he’ll have as big as a resume as Bruce. 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

Jun 24, 2024 • 1h 5min
Matt Farley - Producing Movies on Your Own Terms!
This week we welcome Producer, Writer, actor and mega song writer Matt Farley on the show to talk about his approach to filmmaking, how he turned his art into his job and by writing thousands and thousands of songs. 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