

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

Mar 20, 2023 • 1h 11min
Making a Thoughtful First Feature with Dawn Jones Redstone!
This week we welcome writer and director Dawn Jones Redstone to talk about making her first feature film Mother of Color, how she came up for the idea for the film and how she raised the funds in an untraditional way. We also play another round of the Game, enjoy! Order The Alternate on Itunes Out Now: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/the-alternate/id1640576609?ls=1 For 20% off your Jambox subscription use code MMIH @ jambox.io Check out the ISA at: www.networkisa.org

Mar 16, 2023 • 1h 23min
BONUS: Throwback Interview with Indie Filmmaking Legend Jared Hess!
Here's a throwback episode from our 100th episode way back on May 8th of 2017 at the end of the 2nd year of the show! Jared Hess is the director of Napoleon Dynamite, Nacho Libre and many others. For those who don't know Napoleon Dynamite basically became the most successful indie film ever and I don't think anything that low budget as achieved that level of success since (maybe paranormal activity). He's a working writer and a director, spending most of his time on TV and films. But the reason we wanted to talk to him was because he lived the dream we all have: making it into Sundance with our first film, winning a bunch of awards and getting whisked off to Hollywood to start a career. This conversation is a good match for Thom Harp, not because of the Sundance win but because he always works with the funniest of people in all of his movies, which is also true for Thom at the very start of his career! Enjoy!
If you like these throwback episodes give us a shout at podcast@makingmoviesishard.com and thanks for listening!
Check out our patreon at www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Order The Alternate on Itunes Out Now: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/the-alternate/id1640576609?ls=1

Mar 13, 2023 • 1h 23min
Delivering 2 Features in One Year: Making The Donor Party with Thom Harp!
This week, Alrik and Liz welcome filmmaker Thom Harp on the show to talk about making his move to LA, getting reps, and then after many years, making his two first features back to back during the pandemic. We focus the conversation mainly on The Donor Party starring Malin Ackerman. Enjoy!
Order The Alternate on Itunes Out Now: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/the-alternate/id1640576609?ls=1
For 20% off your Jambox subscription use code MMIH @ jambox.io
Check out the ISA at: www.networkisa.org

Mar 9, 2023 • 1h 59min
BONUS: Throwback Interview with Sleight Filmmaker J.D. Dillard!
Here's a throwback episode from way back in the vault from episode 157 with writer/director J.D. Dillard who was famously attached to a Star Wars feature and a Superman feature and was in development on a remake of The Fly for many years. In this conversation we talk about making his first feature Sleight which ended up premiering at Sundance and being released in theaters and made over $1 million dollars in theaters alone before going to streaming/DVD on a $250k budget. This was a really fun conversation then and I think it remains a great one now!
If you like these throwback episodes give us a shout at podcast@makingmoviesishard.com and thanks for listening!
Check out our patreon at www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Order The Alternate on Itunes Out Now: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/the-alternate/id1640576609?ls=1

Mar 6, 2023 • 1h 19min
Making Your First Feature at Blumhouse with Yoko Okumura!
This week Alrik and Liz welcome writer/director Yoko Okumura on the show to talk about the making of her first feature film Unseen, as part of a Blumhouse/MGM deal, how she landed the director role and what her experience was like directing her first feature at that scale. After that we play another round of THE GAME. Enjoy
Order The Alternate on Itunes Out Now: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/the-alternate/id1640576609?ls=1
For 20% off your Jambox subscription use code MMIH @ jambox.io
Check out the ISA at: www.networkisa.org

Mar 2, 2023 • 1h 12min
BONUS: Throwback Episode with Filmmaker Aleem Hossain!
This week Liz and Alrik talk with indie filmmaker Aleem Hossain about the process of making his first feature film, After We Leave, which he shot across over eight years and made it on a budget under $50k. Aleem talks about his decision to make his film over a long period of time, not rush the process and make sure he got each frame just the way he wanted.
If you like these throwback episodes give us a shout at podcast@makingmoviesishard.com and thanks for listening!
Check out our patreon at www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Order The Alternate on Itunes Out Now: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/the-alternate/id1640576609?ls=1

Feb 27, 2023 • 1h 18min
Making an Anthology Horror Feature with Ryan Spindell!
This week Alrik and Liz welcome writer/director Ryan Spindell on the show to talk about how he made his anthology feature The Mortuary Collection, what his approach was, why he decided to make an anthology film in the first place and how he got the film funded and distributed! After that we actually premiere a brand new segment called, You’re the Expert. Enjoy!
Order The Alternate on Itunes Out Now: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/the-alternate/id1640576609?ls=1
For 20% off your Jambox subscription use code MMIH @ jambox.io
Check out the ISA at: www.networkisa.org

Feb 23, 2023 • 1h 51min
BONUS: Throwback Interview with Don Bies!
Here's a throwback episode from way back in the vault from episode 151 on April 9th 2018 with practical SFX whiz Don Bies who worked on movies such as Indiana Jones and the Last Crusades, The Fly, Galaxy Quest, Starship Troopers, Ghost Busters 2 and many more!
If you like these throwback episodes give us a shout at podcast@makingmoviesishard.com and thanks for listening!
Check out our patreon at www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Order The Alternate on Itunes Out Now: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/the-alternate/id1640576609?ls=1

Feb 20, 2023 • 1h 19min
Sundance, Spielberg and Swallowed with Carter Smith!
This week, Alrik and Liz welcome writer and director Carter Smith on the show to talk about how he made his latest film SWALLOWED, how he got Jena Melone to star in the film and his pitch to Spielberg which secured his role as director for The Ruins. After that we play another round of THE GAME and read a new iTunes review. Enjoy!
Order The Alternate on Itunes Out Now: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/the-alternate/id1640576609?ls=1
For 20% off your Jambox subscription use code MMIH @ jambox.io
Check out the ISA at: www.networkisa.org

Feb 16, 2023 • 53min
BONUS: Throwback Interview with Joslyn Rose Lyons!
This week on our throwback episode we feature an old interview with Joslyn Rose Lyons from episode 331 back on August 9th, 2021! The full episode featuring our currently retired segment, Get Shorty and Liz and Alrik's normal discussion, is behind the paywall, so unless you are a patreon supporter, you'll just get the interview itself.
Let us know what you think of this throwback interview and if there are any old interviews you want to hear, let us know and we will consider them for a future episode!
Check out our patreon at www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Order The Alternate on Itunes Out Now: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/the-alternate/id1640576609?ls=1