

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

Feb 7, 2025 • 41min
Anna Gutto - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 381 from July 2022 with writer and director Anna Gutto who talks about the ten year journey to make her first feature film, Paradise Highway. I thought that was a good match for Deborah because they both took around ten years to finish their first 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

Feb 3, 2025 • 58min
Deborah Puette - From Acting to Writing and Co-Directing a Feature!
This week we welcome writer, actor, co-director Deborah Puette on the show to talk about how she got her first feature Cash for Gold made, which she also stars in. Deborah talks about making the short film version in 2013 and how that started her journey to making the feature length version over 10 years later.. 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

Jan 30, 2025 • 1h 10min
Timothy Plain and Alrik Bursell - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 119 from September 2017 where Alrik and old co-host Timothy Plain talk about PR and how they went about getting their films seen. This is a fun match for Justin just to see how far Alrik has come in his PR experience as a nice juxtaposition to Justin’s interview.. 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

Jan 27, 2025 • 1h 5min
Justin Cook - Starting a Film PR Firm!
This week we welcome Public Relations Representative Justin Cook on the show to talk about how he got into PR, how he likes to partner with filmmakers and what makes for a successful PR campaign! 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

Jan 23, 2025 • 33min
Bianca Beyrouti - Maria Mealla - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 249 from February 2020 featuring indie producer Bianca Beyrouti. She was on the show live from the Napa valley Film festival to talk about Bring Me an Avocado with writer Director Maria Maella. I thought this was a good episode to play to just honor Bianca with her sudden passing a few weeks ago and to just showcase what a big part of the indie filmmaking community she 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

Jan 20, 2025 • 55min
Antonio Negret - Daniel Negret - Luiza Ricupero - Making a Feature with Family!
This week we welcome accomplished TV director Antonio Negret, his brother writer Daniel Negret and his wife, the producer Luiza Ricupero to talk about their feature Shaman which played at the Austin Film Festival earlier this year! Our producer extraordinaire Eric Toms conducted this interview from the Omni Hotel in Austin so it’s sure to be a good one. 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

Jan 16, 2025 • 1h 11min
Jocelyn DeBoer & Dawn Luebbe - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 248 from January 2020 with actors turned writers, producers and directors Jocelyn DeBoer & Dawn Luebbe who talk about making their indie hit Greener Grass and what it took for them to pull that movie together. I thought this was a good match for Susie since she also wrote, produced, directed and starred in her first feature as well. 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

Jan 14, 2025 • 54min
Alexandra Boylan - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 375 from June 2022 with faith based filmmaker Alexandra Boylan. Alrik thought this was a good match for Dallas because they are both faith based filmmakers with very different backgrounds and careers within the same genre. 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

Jan 13, 2025 • 47min
Susie Yankou - Starring, Writing and Directing Your First Feature!
This week we welcome writer and director Susie Yankou on the show to talk about their latest feature Sisters which played at the Austin Film Festival earlier this year! Our producer extraordinaire Eric Toms conducted this interview from the Omni Hotel in Austin so it’s sure to be a good one. 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

Jan 6, 2025 • 51min
Dallas Jenkins - Making Your Dream Feature with the Creator of The Chosen!
This week we welcome writer, director and producer Dallas Jenkins on the show to talk about making his latest feature THe Best Christmas Pageant Ever and we talk about the most successful crowd funded project ever The Chosen which he is the creator of. After that Eric and I talk about new years filmmaking plans, 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