
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 17, 2023 • 1h 11min
Creating a Sustainable Career Making Movies with Jhennifer Webberley!
This week we welcome producer, editor and production accountant Jhennifer Webberley on the show to talk about forming her company, wearing multiple hats, film fundraising and much more! After that we play another round of THE GAME, enjoy!
Check out Casting Calls America, it's casting made easy at www.castingcallsamerica.com!
Watch The Alternate on Tubi Out Now: https://tubitv.com/movies/702632/the-alternate
For 20% off your Jambox subscription use code MMIH @ jambox.io
Check out the ISA at: www.networkisa.org

Jul 13, 2023 • 1h 20min
BONUS: Throwback Interview with Besties Make Movies!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 334 with filmmakers Stacey Maltin and Margarita Zhitnikova back from September 2021 who talked about willing their film into existence which seemed similar to the way Juan and his team just pulled their film family together to make their special movie. After that we play a round of You’re the Expert, enjoy!

Jul 10, 2023 • 1h 12min
Making Your First Feature During COVID with Juan Felipe Zuleta!
This week we welcome writer/director Juan Felipe Zuleta on the show to talk about his film Unidentified Objects which played Stiges and Fantastic fest and is out now on all platforms. Juan talked about how he made the film during the pandemic and what drew him to writing this story. After that we play another round of THE GAME, enjoy!
Check out Casting Calls America, it's casting made easy at www.castingcallsamerica.com!
Watch The Alternate on Tubi Out Now: https://tubitv.com/movies/702632/the-alternate
For 20% off your Jambox subscription use code MMIH @ jambox.io
Check out the ISA at: www.networkisa.org

Jul 6, 2023 • 1h 3min
BONUS: Throwback Interview with Sana Soni!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 312 from March 2021 with Sana Soni who was at 1091 but who is now the Director of Sales and Distribution at Giant Pictures! I thought this was a good match for Mia since they both work in distribution, although one is a freelancer and one works for a larger company. After that we play another round of You’re the expert, enjoy!

Jul 3, 2023 • 1h 13min
Being a Boss as a Distribution Consultant with Mia Bruno!
This week we welcome Film Distribution and Marketing Strategist/ Impact Producer Mia Bruno on the show to talk about how she got into distribution, her time working at Gravitas and moving out on her own as a consultant. After that we play another round of The Game, enjoy!
Check out Casting Calls America, it's casting made easy at www.castingcallsamerica.com!
Watch The Alternate on Tubi Out Now: https://tubitv.com/movies/702632/the-alternate
For 20% off your Jambox subscription use code MMIH @ jambox.io
Check out the ISA at: www.networkisa.org

Jun 29, 2023 • 1h 48min
BONUS: Throwback Interview with Jeffrey Allard!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 156 with producer Jeffrey Allard from May 2018 who came on the show to talk about his prolific career producing indie feature films, our work together on The Alternate (which had really not even started yet) and much more! I thought this was a good pairing for David because I imagine Jeff as future David in some way, with the amount of films he has produced and the amount of films David is sure to produce in the future! After that we play another round of ‘you’re the expert’, enjoy!

Jun 26, 2023 • 1h 13min
Producing Indie Films Full Time with David Lawson Jr!
This week we welcome producer David Lawson Jr. on the show to talk about producing indie features, his process as a producer and what he looks for in a project. After that we play another round of THE GAME, enjoy!
Check out Casting Calls America, it's casting made easy at www.castingcallsamerica.com!
Watch The Alternate on Tubi Out Now: https://tubitv.com/movies/702632/the-alternate
For 20% off your Jambox subscription use code MMIH @ jambox.io
Check out the ISA at: www.networkisa.org

Jun 22, 2023 • 1h 11min
BONUS: Throwback Interview with Nick Scown and Julia Seabaugh!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 338 with documentary filmmakers Nick Scown and Julie Seabaugh about making their feature documentary Too Soon: Comedy After 9/11 which I thought was a good companion piece to Cynthia and Christines story because while the circumstances of them working together are much different, it seems like the collaboration and the way they worked together was similar. After that we play a round of You’re the Expert, enjoy!

Jun 19, 2023 • 1h 9min
Making the Burden of Proof for 8 Years with Cynthia Hill & Christine Delp!
This week we welcome director Cynthia Hill and producer Christine Delp on the show to talk about their HBO documentary series The Burden of Truth, which they made together across eight years. They talk about how they discovered the story, how they formed the series and all the hard work that went into those eight years. This week special guest host Eric Toms joins us for the interview and the segments and we play another round Eric's own creation, THE GAME, enjoy!
Check out Casting Calls America, it's casting made easy at www.castingcallsamerica.com!
Watch The Alternate on Tubi Out Now: https://tubitv.com/movies/702632/the-alternate
For 20% off your Jambox subscription use code MMIH @ jambox.io
Check out the ISA at: www.networkisa.org

Jun 16, 2023 • 40min
BONUS: Throwback Interview with Anthony Scott Burns!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 311 from March 2021 with Anthony Scott Burns where he talks about making his first feature after quitting a feature he had already been hired to direct. I think this is a good match for Bomani because they both worked with established producers on their films and had amazing film festival success! After that we play another round of your the expert, enjoy!