
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

Jun 20, 2024 • 1h 15min
Maria Mealla - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 170 from August 2018 with producer/writer and director Maria Mealla who talks about making her second feature film Bring Me an Avocado and the struggles she faced raising her money and getting that film made. Alrik picked this episode to go with Kyra because not only are Maria and Kyra both producers who are also talented directors but Maria is one of Krya’s friends and mentors, so it felt like a good match.. 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 17, 2024 • 1h 7min
Kyra Knox - Telling Your Truth to Make Your Filmmaking Dreams Happen!
This week we welcome Producer and director Kyra Knox on the show to talk about directing her first feature film, Bad Things Happen in Philadelphia, making the leap into filmmaking and the amazing journey her filmmaking has taken her on. 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 13, 2024 • 1h 27min
Tom Huang - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 253 from March 2020 with writer director Tom Huang who talks about making his feature film Find Me and his filmmaking philosophy, which I thought was a good match for Clinton because we got into a little bit of his philosophy of filmmaking as well. After that we play another round of You’re the expert, enjoy!
Make sure to check out Clinton's podcast that he does with other MMIH Guest Allen C. Gardener!
https://wearestorylife.com/
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 10, 2024 • 1h 11min
Clinton Cornwell - Shooting First Feature 12 Months for Over 18 Months!
This week we welcome writer and director Clinton Cornwell on the show to talk about making his first feature 12 Months, how he approached making the film and why he decided to shoot a movie over the period of over a year versus shooting it all at once. After that we play another round of THE GAME, enjoy!
Make sure to check out Clinton's podcast that he does with other MMIH Guest Allen C. Gardener!
https://wearestorylife.com/
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 6, 2024 • 1h 12min
Derek Presley and Jason Starne - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 298 from December 2020 with director Derek Presely and producer Jason Starne who talk about making their 2nd feature Red Stone and how it’s lead directly into their next feature. Alrik thought this was a good match for Ty and Rodes because Derek and Jason are another director/producer set and they talk about how they work together similar Rodes and Ty did. After that we play another round 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 3, 2024 • 1h 7min
Rodes Phire and Ty Gordon - The Producer Director Collaboration and Making Your Movies!
This week we welcome Producer actor Rodes Phire and Director actor Ty Gordon on the show to talk about collaborating on their feature Never Forgotten. After that Liz is going to talk about her process in setting up the crowdfunding for her next feature BFF, 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

May 31, 2024 • 46min
Melanie Addington - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 368 from April 2022 with Tall Grass Film festival director and producer Melanie Addington who talks about working at film festivals and producing her own work at the same time. We felt Melanie was a good match for Rachel because they are both film festival directors who make their films in between running their fests. 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

May 27, 2024 • 1h 6min
Rachel Belofsky - Producing Movies and Running Screamfest!
This week we welcome Producer Screamfest Festival director Rachel Belofsky onto the show about starting Screamfest, how she runs the festival and managing the festival and producing her own films in between. Screamfest is open for submissions now so get your films in by July 10th! After that we play another round of THE GAME but first, Alrik, how are you doing?
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

May 23, 2024 • 1h 28min
Jesse Handsher - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 201 from March 2019 with director Jesse Handsher who talks about making his feature documentary, Being Napoleon, which we felt was a good match for Brenton because these are both stories about making feature documentaries and they both work in corporate video to pay the bills. 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

May 20, 2024 • 1h 7min
Brenton Gieser - Switching Careers to Become a Filmmaker!
This week we welcome first time feature director Brenton Gieser on the show to talk about directing his feature The 50 after switching careers to filmmaking just a few years ago. 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