
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 12, 2023 • 58min
Getting Hired to Write and Direct Your First Feature with Bomani J. Story!
This week we welcome writer director Bomani J Story on the show to talk about making his first feature film The Angry Black Girl and her Monster, how he got the project set up at Crypt TV and what it was like to premiere at SXSW! After that we pay another round of THE GAME, enjoy!
THE ANGRY BLACK GIRL AND HER MONSTER will be available in Theaters on June 9, 2023 and it will be on Demand and on Digital on June 23, 2023. It will also stream on ALLBlk and on Shudder at a later date.
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 8, 2023 • 56min
BONUS: Throwback Interview with Jen McGowan!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 317 from May 2021 with director Jen McGowan who talks about the circumstances leading to her second feature film and how she kicked off her TV directing career! I thought this was a nice pairing for Sylvia because they both started working as crew before their directing careers took off. After that we play another round of You’re the expert, enjoy!

Jun 5, 2023 • 1h 9min
A Life on Set with Director Sylvia Caminer!
This week we welcome Producer and director Sylvia Caminer on the show to talk about directing her latest feature, Follow Her and her impressive producing and directing career, starting as a PA and working her way up. 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 1, 2023 • 42min
BONUS: Throwback Conversation About Unions!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play a conversation with Timothy and Alrik talking all about unions, what they knew about unions at the time and why they both weren’t members of any entertainment union at the time (and still aren’t now!) Since Rob talked all about the strike this seemed like a good match after that we play another round of You’re the Expert, enjoy!

May 29, 2023 • 1h 13min
Understanding the WGA Writers Strike with Strike Captain Rob Forman!
This week we welcome WGA Writer and Strike Captain Rob Forman on the show to talk to us about everything regarding the WGA strike! We get to hear about what a strike captain does, the strategy behind picketing and all the details of why this strike is so damn important! After that we play another round of THE GAME and we read yet another Itunes review!
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

May 25, 2023 • 60min
BONUS: Throwback Interview with Production Designer Rob Riutta!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 241 way back in December 2019 with production designer Rob Riutta right while we were in the middle of shooting The Alternate which we talk about the design of quite a bit. This one is a good match for Garo because we talk about set building which ties into the set talk we had with Garo, plus we focus our talk on a sci-fi movie same with Garo, so yeah, I figured this was a pretty good fit!

May 22, 2023 • 1h 23min
From Editing Trailers to Directing Sci-Fi Features with Garo Setian!
This week we welcome writer director Garo Setian on the show to talk about making of his second feature film Space Wars: Quest for the Deep Star, how he raised the budget for the film and we get into a bit of the current climate of franchises and have some nerd debates. 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

May 18, 2023 • 1h 31min
BONUS: Throwback Interview with Anna Biller!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 305 back in February 2021 with writer/director Anna Biller about the making of her feature The Love Witch, which we felt was a pretty good match for Emily since they both had long periods in between projects, although the circumstances are a little different. After that we play another round of You’re the Expert, enjoy!

May 15, 2023 • 1h 10min
Sundance to Docs to Narrative Feature #2 with Emily Abt!
This week we welcome writer director Emily Abt on the show to talk about making her first feature film Toe to Toe and her experience premiering at Sundance, her fourteen year break to making her 2nd Narrative feature Thirsty, getting reps, losing reps and making three documentary features in between, all while raising two kids! After that we play another round of THE GAME, enjoy!
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

May 11, 2023 • 1h 21min
BONUS: Thursday Throwback Interview with Eduardo Castrillo!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 231 with prolific director Eduardo Castrillo about how he has directed so many features and how he has kept doing it over and over. This is a great pairing for Jon Garcia because I feel like Eduardo is equally as prolific as Jon but just working in very different genres. But stick around because we play another round of You’re the Expert, enjoy!