

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

May 22, 2025 • 54min
Melissa Rundle - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 441 from September 2023 with writer Melissa Rundle who talks about making a career as a writer in Hollywood. Alrik thought this was a great match for Leon’s episode on Monday because they are both full time writers working in Hollywood. 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 19, 2025 • 1h 4min
Leon Chills - Writing and Selling Your First Feature Script in Hollywood!
This week we welcome writer Leon Chills on the show to talk about writing the new feature Shadow Force, how he got the script sold and how he has been making a living as a Hollywood Writer. After that we play another round of THE GAME and talk about what we are both up to, 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 15, 2025 • 50min
Braden Duemmler - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 391 from October 2022 featuring wrtier/director Braden Duemmler! Alrik thought this was a good match for our episode with Felipe Vargas from Monday because Braden also went to USC and his first feature was funded at a pretty high budget, just as Felipe’s was. 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 12, 2025 • 1h 6min
Felipe Vargas - Short Films to USC to a First Feature!
This week we welcome writer director Felipe Vargas on the show to talk about making his first feature film Rosario, how he got attached to the project and the short films he made that led him to get his first feature made at this level. Friend of the show and previous guest Clinton Cornwall came on to do the interview with Alrik due to a scheduling thing on Eric's end, so if you don’t recognize the voice, that’s who it is, and check out Clinton’s interview on episode 480, with Liz and Alrik. It’s a raucous good time! After that we play another round of THE GAME and talk about what we are both up to, 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 8, 2025 • 51min
Carter Smith - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 412 from February 2023 featuring director Carter Smith! Alrik thought this was a good match for our episode with Timothy Scott Bogart from Monday because Carter also is making his films at different budget levels, going well over 10 million and way under, depending on the project, just like Tim. 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 5, 2025 • 1h 8min
Timothy Scott Bogart - Writing and Directing Indie Musical Juliet and Romeo!
This week we welcome writer director Timothy Scott Bogart on the show to talk about making his latest feature film Juliet & Romeo, a pop-musical adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, shot on location in Italy, starring Rebel Wilson, Jason Issacs, Rupert Everett and Derek Jacobi among others, with all the songs being recorded in camera. 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

May 1, 2025 • 53min
Mick Davis - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 449 from November 2023 with director Mick Davis who talks about directing his latest feature Walden, starring Emile Hirsch. I thought this was a great match for Dito’s episode on Monday because they are both full time directors how have directed eight features. 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

Apr 28, 2025 • 1h 2min
Dito Montiel - Casting Jennifer Coolidge to Breath Life into Feature #8!
This week we welcome writer/director Dito Montiel on the show to talk about directing his latest feature Riff Raff, starring Jennifer Coolidge, Pete Davidson and Bill Murray, among others and Dito tells us about how he got such an incredible cast in this film. 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

Apr 24, 2025 • 1h 17min
Marco Aguilar - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 149 from March 2018 with filmmaker Marco Aguilar who talks about taking his short film concept and building it out to raise money for his Zombie Parkour feature. Alrik thought this was a great match for Grant Rosado’s episode from Monday because they both talk about running crowdfunding campaigns for martial arts based features. 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

Apr 22, 2025 • 55min
Meera Menon - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 385 from August 2022 featuring director Meera Menon! Alrik thought this was a good match for our episode with Ami Canaan Mann from Monday because Meera also started making indie features before going into TV directing. 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