

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

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

Jan 3, 2025 • 1h 12min
Reed Shusterman - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 278 from August 2020 with script supervisor turned writer director Reed Shusterman where he talks about willing his movie into existence. I thought this was a good match for Eric because it sounds like Eric really willed his movie into existence and I think they ended up with similar sized budgets when all was said and done. 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

Dec 31, 2024 • 52min
Alex Wolff - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 235 from November 2019 with actor turned writer and director Alex Wolff who talks about going from starring in big budget movies to writing and directing his first feature. I thought this was a good match for Angela and Mark because Angela and Alex are both actors first who moved onto writing and 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

Dec 30, 2024 • 54min
Eric Gregson - Making Your First Feature Twice!
This week we welcome writer and director Eric Gregson on the show to talk about making his first feature Dark Arrows which he shot, then secured additional investment to completely reshoot the film at a higher budget. 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

Dec 23, 2024 • 60min
Angela Gulner and Mark Meir - From Acting to Directing and Producing The Beldham!
This week we welcome writer and director Angela Gulner and Producer Mark Meir on the show to talk about their latest feature The Beldham 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

Dec 19, 2024 • 1h 44min
Noam Kroll - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 123 from October 2017 with filmmaker, podcaster and all around indie film guru, Noam Kroll. I thought Noam was a good match for James because they both focus on filmmaking (in one form or another) to pay the bills and I can see James sitting where Noam is with three features under his belt in a few years. 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

Dec 16, 2024 • 1h 9min
James Chick - From Youtuber to Feature Filmmaker!
This week we welcome filmmaker and youtuber James Chick on the show to talk about directing his first feature, Feet of Death, which is a Big Foot horror movie . 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

Dec 14, 2024 • 1h 12min
Timothy Plain and Alrik Bursell Talk Producers - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 16 from September 2015 where Alrik and original co-host Timothy Plain talk about working with producers. Alrik thought this would be a fun match for Gill’s episode since he talks about his experience as a producer and it’s interesting to see how the 2015 version of Alrik liked to work with producers and how that compares to Gill’s work. 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

Dec 9, 2024 • 1h 3min
Gill Gayle - Acting, Production Designing and Producing Feature Films!
This week we welcome Producer, Actor and production designer Gill Gayle on the show to talk about acting, producing and production designing features, including his latest feature, Free LSD! 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

Dec 5, 2024 • 54min
Allen C Gardner - BONUS Throwback Interview!
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 348 from December 2021 with writer, producer and director Allen C. Gardner who talks about how he makes his movies, how he does it while raising his children and how positive thinking is what keeps it all going. 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