Advertise on podcast: The MAKE IT Podcast

This episode is brought to you by Anthropic. Claude is the AI for minds that don’t stop at good enough—it's the collaborator that actually understands your entire workflow and thinks WITH you, not for you. Ready to tackle bigger problems? Sign up for Claude Pro when you use our link – www.claude.ai/makeit This episode is brought to you by MAKE IT Academy. Get access to 200+ courses today at https://themakeitpodcast.com/pages/academy and use code: ACADEMY50 for 50% off the Academy for a year!  Hello, Hello!  In this episode. the fellas are back to chop it up about a wide variety of topics! We explore how a proposed federal film incentive could affect independent production budgets and U.S. filmmaking. We debate AI contract provisions, the shrinking of acting opportunities, and the creative impact of studio consolidation. We also discuss mental health, television storytelling, and what to watch for Halloween. Enjoy! We also talk about: Why introverts may find meaningful conversations energizing, even after a busy week.Nick's critique of Vision Quest and its rapid, comic-book-style storytelling.Why the new A Different World feels different from the original to Nick, and why he still welcomes the cast’s opportunity.The importance of asking friends directly whether they are okay, especially during a period of social and technological change.Halloween picks ranging from Whalefall and The Sixth Sense to Gremlins, plus the our thoughts on horror built through story rather than gore. People, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned: People Adam Schiff  Mark Maxey Chris Greene Nichole Marie Lim  Sean Astin RJ Mitte Sacha Baron Cohen / Ali G Sydney Sweeney Aaron Sorkin Kadeem Hardison Dominic Hoffman Tom Cruise Arnold Schwarzenegger Eddie Murphy Organizations & Companies Anthropic SAG-AFTRA WGA The New York Times IFC Skydance GEICO Progressive Liberty Mutual Films & Television E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial The Hunger Games Pulp Fiction Digger  John Carter Howard the Duck Norbit The Only Living Pickpocket in New York Tilly Norwood WandaVision Vision Quest A Different World / Hillman College  Whalefall The Sixth Sense Sin City Gremlins The Amityville Horror Friday the 13th A Nightmare on Elm Street Hellraiser Halloween The Terminator Predator Alien Requiem for a Dream Bad Boys: Ride or Die  mother! Products & Platforms Claude Pro  Riverside Storyblocks Places Georgia Kentucky Louisiana New Mexico New Hampshire New Jersey Legislation & Industry H.R. 10582 — Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act Film production incentives in the US SAG-AFTRA contracts  WGA contracts Paramount Skydance / Warner Bros. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

We are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters.  So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating, or giving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT https://themakeitpodcast.store/newsletter Hello, Hello! In this episode, AI Hosts Alex Ivey and Allison Inverness explore Lee Abrams’ path from a teenage radio enthusiast to a media innovator who challenged conventional formats. The conversation explains how audience observation, creative judgment, and careful programming helped build passionate fans. It also considers whether his approach can reshape television news and remain distinctive in an age of AI-generated media. We also talk about: How a WQAM summer job exposed Abrams to radio operations and the frustrations of AM Top 40.His callback-card research and the principle that data should verify creative choices rather than originate them.The difference between users and fans, and why sequencing turns content into programming.XM’s 89 studios, 2.5 million-song library, and the story of blues programmer Bill Wax meeting B.B. King.Abrams’ Tribune Company experience, AFDI, the creative batting average, and the challenge of making News Fix credible and compelling. People, Places, Products, and References Mentioned: People Lee Abrams Buzz Bennett Henry Ford Chris Squire Jon Anderson  Bill Wax B.B. King Ted Nugent Barbra Streisand Stanley Kubrick Projects & Organizations Original MAKE IT episode with Lee Abrams (2021)  CelebrityAccess NewsFix  XM Satellite Radio Tribune Company WQAM WLS Yes The Onion Concepts & Technology Album-oriented rock (AOR) AM radio / FM radio IBM servers Spotify AI-generated content Places & Cultural References The Midwest Metallica Chicago Symphony Orchestra 2001: A Space Odyssey Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

This episode is brought to you by Storyblocks! Storyblocks is a 100% human-made stock media library that’s essential for creators with millions of professionally curated assets — footage, music, sound effects, templates, and images. Everything is pre-licensed and ready to use under one subscription. Head to storyblocks.com/makeit to access the human-made stock media library that’s essential to our workflow. For a limited time, get 15% OFF any annual plan! This episode is brought to you by MAKE IT Academy. Get access to 200+ courses today at https://themakeitpodcast.com/pages/academy and use code: ACADEMY50 for 50% off the Academy for a year!  Hello, Hello!  In this episode, filmmaker and former performer Michael Gier explains how he made his documentary The Heroism and Resiliency of 9/11: From Tragedy to Triumph. He shares stories of first responders, civilians, Flight 93, the boat lift, and rare footage from the Pentagon. The conversation also explores creative careers, rejection, film school, entrepreneurship, and what it means to MAKE IT. We also talk about: The personal stories behind the documentary, including Will Jimeno’s rescue, the “Man in the Red Bandana,” and Lauren Grankolus’s voicemail.Michael’s journey from theater and television to building Geier Productions after losing his real-estate business in the 2008 crash.Lessons from Wounded Heroes, including Michael’s search for treatments that help people living with post-traumatic stress.The “Praise You” video, the Torrance Community Dancers, Spike Jonze’s Richard Koufey persona, and the group’s three MTV Video Music Awards.Michael’s advice on versatility, business skills, collaboration, learning by doing, and staying grounded through career setbacks. People, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned: People — Show & Family Michael Gier Terri Gier People — 9/11 Will Jimeno Scott Strauss (NYPD ESU) Sgt. John McLoughlin Lauren Grandcolas & Jack Grandcolas Welles Crowther  Jules and Gédéon Naudet Pavel Hlava Wolfgang Staehle Jude Koch People — Performers & Filmmakers Gregory Hines Spike Jonze  Sofia Coppola Francis Ford Coppola Wayne Newton Elton John Deidre Hall Louie Anderson Zach Galifianakis Gary Sinise  Sean Penn Christopher Nolan Paul Thomas Anderson Matt Damon Nicolas Cage Martin Short John Madden People — Other Public Figures Burt Reynolds Clint Eastwood Brad Pitt Tom Cruise Jennifer Aniston Jean-Claude Van Damme Vin Diesel Paris Hilton Jake Paul Daejon Love Orson Welles Alfred Hitchcock Stevie Ray Vaughan Eddie Van Halen Eric Clapton Peter Frampton Chris Rock Eminem Ricky Martin Will Smith Groups & Characters Torrance Community Dancers Guns N’ Roses Korn The Kardashians Prince Akeem Jiminy Glick  Projects The Heroism and Resiliency of 9/11: From Tragedy to Triumph Wounded Heroes Healing the Heroes of 9-11  Gier Productions Torrance Rises Fatboy Slim — “Praise You” Make It Academy TV & Film Sunset Beach Days of Our Lives Baskets The Princess Bride Tombstone The Matrix The Bourne Identity The Odyssey Avatar The Brutalist One Battle After Another Mystic River Wild Wild West Coming to America Places San Diego Balboa Park  Hollywood  Torrance Coronado Beverly Hills Malibu New York City Manhattan  World Trade Center The Pentagon US Capitol Hudson River Las Vegas Nashville San Francisco Japan Australia Scotland Ireland Paris Brno Stuttgart Lamb’s Players Theatre Aladdin Hotel Metropolitan Opera House TCL Chinese Theatre Vanderbilt University Harvard Zamunda (fictional) We are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters.  So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating, or giving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT https://themakeitpodcast.store/newsletter Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

We are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters.  So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating, or giving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT https://themakeitpodcast.store/newsletter Hello, Hello! In this episode, AI Hosts Alex Ivey and Allison Inverness explore Julius Ritter’s evolution from biracial child and working actor to independent writer-director. The conversation examines permissionless work, zero-budget filmmaking, creative solitude, and the search for timeless artistic themes. It is essential listening for filmmakers who want to build original work without waiting for industry approval. We also talk about: How being labeled can lead an artist to invent new worlds and identities.Why Ritter paused Sock and Buskin to pursue a $100,000 GoFundMe.The relationship between casting debates, colorism, representation, and working artists’ livelihoods.Why internet slang can date a screenplay while universal themes remain accessible.How solitude prepares a creative blueprint before collaboration brings it to life. People, Places, Products, and References Mentioned: People Julius Charles Ritter (also on TMDB) Terry Jingles Rob Reiner Quentin Tarantino William Shakespeare Soulja Boy Acting Credits Gap (Gap Kids) CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Like Mike  Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life  The Master of Disguise  His Own Films Sock & Buskin  Sock and Buskin Film Fund (GoFundMe) Mr. Misery Americana, White Sheets What Did Deborah Do?  Organizations & Platforms Ford Models GoFundMe Mammoth Film Festival References & Places Looney Tunes Sock and buskin  Hollywood Los Angeles Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

This episode is brought to you by MAKE IT Academy. Get access to 200+ courses today at https://themakeitpodcast.com/pages/academy and use code: ACADEMY50 for 50% off the Academy for a year!  Hello, Hello!  In this episode, Allison Alonso explains how she led her first 48 Hour Film Project as a director and won with Falling Short. She breaks down the competition’s strict rules, the creative decisions behind the film, and the practical realities of making a short film in 48 hours. The conversation also explores filmmaking careers, crew leadership, food on set, film influences, and what it means to make it. We also talk about: How the 48 Hour Film Project assigns the same prop, required phrase, and character details to every team.Why Allison chose fantasy over dystopia/utopia and how the team made a tomato work at a gas station location.The importance of feeding a crew, from Mexican bowls at lunch to Hunts Brothers pizza at 2 a.m.How a production team can protect a story’s twist by listening to actors and department heads during shooting.Why Allison sees the project as a return to film after taking a job at Vanderbilt University for stability, health insurance, paid time off, and a break from the industry. People, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned: Falling Short  Raiders of the Lost Ark E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Jaws Short Circuit Napoleon Dynamite Barbie Tenet The Green Knight Black Knight Coming to America Food & Brands Hunt Brothers Pizza Domino’s Gabby’s Burgers & Fries Emmy Squared Big Mac Superica Pizookie  People Allison Alonzo EmElise Knapp Martin Lawrence Steven Spielberg Jordan Chateau Connor Bacon Seth Shepard Jones Kolbinski Jake Gilbert Mariah Kramer Alfonso Ribeiro Tia A. Smith Schools Vanderbilt University Belmont University Carnegie Mellon University Film Events & Organizations Nashville Film Festival 48 Hour Film Project — Nashville Filmapalooza Point of VU Film Festival (POVU) — Vanderbilt’s student festival Places & Venues Dallas, Texas Burbank, California Mexico City Zanies Nashville The Gulch Green Hills Flamingo Cocktail Club Cledis We are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters.  So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating, or giving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT https://themakeitpodcast.store/newsletter Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

This episode is brought to you by MAKE IT Academy. Get access to 200+ courses today at https://themakeitpodcast.com/pages/academy and use code: ACADEMY50 for 50% off the Academy for a year!  Hello, Hello!  In this episode, we speak with Nashville filmmaker Nicole Marie Lim about building a career across makeup, writing, producing, and directing. Nicole explains how supportive relationships, practical set skills, and respectful leadership shape better creative work. The conversation also examines AI, vertical video, mid-budget filmmaking, actor chemistry, and what it means to make it without losing the joy of creating. We also talk about: How makeup artists can prepare for their first professional set.Why continuity, schedules, and department-specific language matter.The limits of glamour, fame, and money in filmmaking.Why directors should trust department heads and communicate according to individual needs.How chemistry reads can reveal unexpected casting choices. People, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned: People Nichole Marie Lim (also IMDb)  Joy Todd David Lim Michelle Lim John August Craig Mazin Jim Henson J.K. Simmons Brad Pitt David Ayer Stephen Norrington Tim Burton Christopher Nolan Zendaya Robert Pattinson Milla Jovovich Viola Davis Brands & Products My Kit Co RCMA Makeup Senna Cosmetics Listerine Altoids Her Projects Checkmate, The Way Back Down, Mom Cult, American Quilt Contest Films Holland (2025) Blade The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen The Migrant Marie Antoinette Amélie Romeo + Juliet  The Sound of Music The Expendables 2 Sinners The 'Burbs Poor Things The Odyssey Oppenheimer Grizzly Man Jaws Alien A Week Away Places & Institutions Nashville Ohio New York Amsterdam Mumbai Nashville Film Festival Frist Art Museum MAKE IT Make It Academy Mastering Film Marketing (e-book) The MAKE IT Podcast We are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters.  So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating, or giving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT www.themakeitpodcast.store/shop/support Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

We are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters.  So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating, or giving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT Subscribe: https://themakeitpodcast.store/shop/support Hello, Hello! In this episode, AI Hosts Alex Ivey and Allison Inverness examine Keith McDaniel’s path from singer, designer, and scriptwriter to documentary filmmaker and community leader. They explore how he learned filmmaking without formal training, documented complex Tennessee history, and built a sustainable local film festival. The conversation also connects creative independence with health, discipline, and the possibility that starting late can mean starting prepared. We also talk about: How a poor first documentary can still reveal the right creative medium.Why interviewing original Oakridgers preserved primary historical testimony.How James Earl Jones added credibility and distribution power to The Clinton 12.Why Keith treated 40 film festivals as research laboratories rather than applause tours.How the seven-day shootout created audience ownership through participation. People, Places, Products, and References Mentioned: Keith McDaniel (also IMDb) James Earl Jones  Ken Burns Films & Projects The Clinton 12  Secret City: The Oak Ridge Story  The Belmont Reasons Companies & Organizations Secret City Films Secret City Film Festival  Knoxville Film Festival Dogwood Arts Discovery Jupiter Entertainment eBay Motel 6 Places Oak Ridge, Tennessee Roane County, Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee Regal Downtown West Cinema 8 History & Concepts Brown v. Board of Education Manhattan Project VHS Slow-carb diet Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

This episode is brought to you by Anthropic. Claude is the AI for minds that don’t stop at good enough—it's the collaborator that actually understands your entire workflow and thinks WITH you, not for you. Ready to tackle bigger problems? Sign up for Claude Pro when you use our link – www.claude.ai/makeit This episode is brought to you by our e-book Mastering Film Marketing. Get your copy today at https://themakeitpodcast.com/products/mastering-film-marketing. Use the Discount code: NASHFILM20 for 20% off EVERYTHING at themakeitpodcast.com Hello, Hello!  In this episode, Isabel Hagen joins us to discuss her work as a comedian, filmmaker, and classically trained violist. She explains how her freelance music career inspired the feature film On a String, which premiered at Tribeca and won Best Screenplay in the U.S. Narrative Competition. The conversation also explores comedy in the age of clips, creative persistence, protecting real people in fiction, film criticism, artistic identity, and what it means to make it. We also talk about: Turning experiences from weddings, funerals, and private music gigs into heightened comedic characters and situations.Why live comedy benefits from audiences putting their phones away while performers test unfinished material.Isabel’s process for becoming a stronger comedian through open mics, recordings, repeated performance, and daily review.The creative lessons she draws from Paul Thomas Anderson, including the scale of One Battle After Another and the score of Phantom Thread.How nostalgia, streaming overload, and the paradox of choice influence how audiences rewatch their favorite movies. People, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned: People Isabel Hagen (isabelhagen.com) Brandon Tamburri  William Primrose Paul Thomas Anderson Maria Bamford Marina Abramović Lana Del Rey Films & TV On a String The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon One Battle After Another Phantom Thread Happiness The Omen The Parent Trap  Goodfellas Challengers Saltburn It's a Wonderful Life The Princess Bride Ferris Bueller's Day Off The NeverEnding Story The Dukes of Hazzard Companies & Organizations Joke Zero Tribeca Film Festival The Juilliard School NBC Symphony Orchestra Hollywood Walk of Fame Nashville Film Festival Substack Soho House Music Guns N' Roses "Welcome to the Jungle" Food & Places LaGuardia Airport Seattle 7th Street Burger Shake Shack Beecher's Handmade Cheese  The Capital Grille MAKE IT Make It Academy Mastering Film Marketing (e-book) We are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters.  So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating, or giving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT www.themakeitpodcast.store/shop/support Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

WHAT IS FILM BRIEF? Blending journalism with artistry, Film Brief transforms film analysis into an engaging and informative listening experience. The goal is to reveal what makes each movie or series resonate—on screen and behind the scenes. For listeners, it’s not just a review; it’s an exploration of the art of filmmaking. BRIEF: In this episode, Nick reviews Who Is Stan Smith?, Danny Lee’s documentary about the tennis champion whose name became attached to one of the world’s most recognizable sneakers. The film moves from athletic achievement and fashion history to Stan Smith’s friendship with Arthur Ashe, humanitarian work, and commitment to players’ rights. The conversation ultimately asks what kind of signature each person leaves behind when fame and branding are stripped away. TAKEAWAYS: Smith’s rise from Southern California and USC tennis to former world number one.His 1971 U.S. Open victory, 1972 Wimbledon victory, five U.S. Open titles across singles and doubles, and eight championship Davis Cup teams.The open era of professional tennis and the movement for greater player control.Smith’s 1973 Wimbledon boycott after Nikola Pilic was suspended.The sneaker’s adoption by musicians, artists, designers, and fashion communities. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: The Film Who Is Stan Smith? Danny Lee Rebecca Halpern People Stan Smith Arthur Ashe John McEnroe Darryl "DMC" McDaniels Pharrell Williams Niki Pilić  Products & Brands Adidas Stan Smith Run-DMC Institutions & Events University of Southern California US Open Wimbledon Davis Cup Ebook: "Mastering Film Marketing" The MAKE IT Podcast We are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters. So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating us, or leaving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT All Links: www.themakeitpodcast.store/shop/support Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

We are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters.  So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating, or giving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT Subscribe: https://themakeitpodcast.store/shop/support Hello, Hello! In this episode, AI Hosts Alex Ivey and Allison Inverness dive deep into the world of filmmaker and Scientist, Alexis Gambis. He explains how a background in molecular biology can serve as a foundation for filmmaking rather than be an abandoned career. The conversation explores the Science New Wave, a movement that combines rigorous science with emotional storytelling, culture, and personal identity. It also examines CRISPR, de-extinction, creative practice, and the infrastructure needed to bring hybrid science films to audiences. We also talk about: The patience and observation skills Gambis developed while studying fruit flies.His father’s shift from engineering to painting and the role of family history in his films.The resistance Gambis encountered from both biology and film communities.Spike Lee’s mentorship and the fruit-fly drawing displayed beside a photo of Patrick Ewing.The Symbiosis initiative’s one-week collaborations between scientists and filmmakers. People, Places, Products, and References Mentioned: Alexis Gambis  Spike Lee James Franco Jessica Chastain Tenoch Huerta  Kurt Andersen Thomas Hunt Morgan Films & Projects The Fly Room (2014) Son of Monarchs (2020/21) The Next Jaguar  Disposable  The Color of Time  Institutions & Platforms The Rockefeller University NYU Tisch School of the Arts Columbia University Labocine Imagine Science Films Science New Wave — Labocine Sundance Film Festival Alfred P. Sloan Prize Science & Concepts Symbiosis CRISPR Cas9 Thylacine (Tasmanian tiger) Woolly mammoth Asian elephant Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

This episode is brought to you by our e-book Mastering Film Marketing. Get your copy today at https://themakeitpodcast.com/products/mastering-film-marketing. Use the Discount code: NASHFILM20 for 20% off EVERYTHING at themakeitpodcast.com Hello, Hello!  In this episode, we dive deep into the cultural and philosophical battle between physical ownership and the digital future, using Sony's elimination of physical game discs and Xbox's pro-physical media stance as a launching point for a wide-ranging conversation about what we lose when we lose the tangible things we love. We pay heartfelt tribute to recently lost icons — including Dolly Parton, Tim Curry, Peter Cullen, Hayden Panettiere, and Michael Wright — reflecting on how physical artifacts, authentic storytelling, and genuine human connection define lasting legacies. We also cover upcoming film releases, fall film festival Oscar buzz, the Nashville Film Festival, and celebrate our milestone of 300K YouTube subscribers. We also talk about: The generational nostalgia crisis — what happens when the next generation's cultural touchstones are memes instead of physical media, Saturday morning cartoons, or vinyl records, and why that loss of human connection to art mattersThe University of Michigan's decision to eliminate grades in response to students using AI to complete coursework for them, and what that means for the future of education and creativityThe Tennessee Titans' underwhelming $10,000 charity gesture for former star Chris Johnson (CJ2K), who was diagnosed with ALS, contrasted with Dolly Parton's 330-million-book donation legacy and what "real" philanthropy looks likeThe upcoming Netflix reboot of A Different World, why Kadeem Hardison's involvement gives fans hope, and what the show must get right to honor the original's legacy of hope, pride, and HBCU cultureThe "infoist" philosophy described in Yuval Noah Harari's 21 Lessons for the 21st Century and how it explains why tech companies are relentlessly pushing toward a fully digital, ownership-free world People, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned: Products / Software / Technology PlayStation Xbox Spotify / Apple Music iTunes Netflix HP Funko Atari 2600 Sega Genesis ChatGPT Flock Safety Films / Shows / Music Mastering Film Marketing (ebook) On a String Black Zombie Anthony Bourdain Digger (Tom Cruise) A Different World Bel-Air Good Times The Five Heartbeats Blonde "Jolene" "Coat of Many Colors" "9 to 5" "I Will Always Love You" Boys Don't Cry (Frank Ocean magazine) — Blonde page The Rocky Horror Picture Show Annie The Transformers Smosh "Chocolate Rain" Charlie Bit My Finger Iron Lung Obsession Backrooms Peter Frampton 21 Lessons for the 21st Century Sapiens People Dolly Parton Tim Curry Peter Cullen Hayden Panettiere Michael Wright Chris Johnson (CJ2K) Frank Ocean Whitney Houston Elvis Presley Porter Wagoner Eminem Steve Jobs Yuval Noah Harari Kadeem Hardison Markiplier Kane Parsons Curry Barker Isabel Hagen Anthony Padilla & Ian Hecox Tay Zonday Paul Kuharsky Bill Cosby Places / Events / Organizations Nashville Film Festival Nashville, Tennessee Dollywood Telluride Film Festival New York Film Festival Venice Film Festival TIFF Sundance Film Festival Tribeca Film Festival HBCUs University of Michigan Make It Academy themakeitpodcast.com Target We are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters.  So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating, or giving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT www.themakeitpodcast.store/shop/support Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

We are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters.  So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating, or giving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT Subscribe: https://themakeitpodcast.store/shop/support Hello, Hello! In this episode, AI Hosts Alex Ivey and Allison Inverness dive deep into the remarkable career of Jeffrey Pittle, a senior creative director, animator, and self-described "agent of transformation" who has spent over two decades working with industry giants like Disney, Universal, Warner Bros., and Nickelodeon. Drawing from the original MAKE IT interview, they unpack the audacious, humble, and often painful journey of a creative professional who built a unicorn skill set by refusing to stay in any single lane. From knocking on a comic legend's front door as a teenager to producing an Oscar-nominated Holocaust animated short, Jeff's story is a masterclass in surviving — and thriving — in the unpredictable business of creativity. We also talk about: How Jeffrey's childhood obsession with '70s Disney films, Jim Henson's Muppets, and the original Star Wars at a drive-in theater planted the seeds of his creative identity and gave him the cognitive leap to realize that making art was an actual, payable professionThe critical balance between audacity and humility in a creative career — why having the ego to knock on a legend's door means nothing without the willingness to sit in a freezing car all night just to hold a parking spot for a film craneThe dangers of tying your creative work to a proprietary tech platform, illustrated by the heartbreaking story of a technically stunning Chaka Khan music video that was locked away forever when the startup behind it went bankruptJeffrey's sharp critique of modern art schools, which excel at teaching technical craft but consistently fail to equip young creatives with the business skills — invoicing, taxes, pricing their time — needed to survive as professionalsThe philosophical paradox that closes the episode: if a masterpiece is created but legally sealed away from the public forever, does it still have value — or does the true worth of creativity lie entirely in how the process of making it transforms the artist? People, Places, Products, and References Mentioned: Jeffrey Pittle Will Eisner Bill Murray Caroll Spinney  Chaka Khan Jim Krupa (NY puppet company) Daniel Alcheh  Leonardo da Vinci  Isaac Newton Steven Spielberg Films & Shows Pete's Dragon  Winnie the Pooh Star Wars (1977) Scrooged (1988) Eureeka's Castle  Deal or No Deal Wipeout The Tattooed Torah Companies & Organizations Nickelodeon Universal Pictures Nick Jr. School of Visual Arts QB (vertical video startup) Quibi Fish Eggs (Venice, CA) USC Shoah Foundation 11 Dollar Bill  Platforms & Tools Adobe After Effects Fitbit Google Images MTV Places South Florida Boca Raton, Florida New York City Queens, New York Venice, California Los Angeles, California Moscow, Russia Concepts & Awards Eisner Awards Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film  Motion capture Chroma key (green screen) Steampunk Jack of all trades, master of none Star Trek vs. Star Wars Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

This episode is brought to you by Anthropic. Claude is the AI for minds that don’t stop at good enough—it's the collaborator that actually understands your entire workflow and thinks WITH you, not for you. Ready to tackle bigger problems? Sign up for Claude Pro when you use our link – www.claude.ai/makeit This episode is brought to you by our e-book Mastering Film Marketing. Get your copy today at https://themakeitpodcast.com/products/mastering-film-marketing. Use the Discount code: NASHFILM20 for 20% off EVERYTHING at themakeitpodcast.com Hello, Hello!  In this episode, Chris & Papa Bear sit down with filmmaker Oscar Boyson to discuss his directorial debut, Our Hero, Balthazar, a provocative and critically talked-about indie film that has been called the most controversial movie of the year. Oscar shares how his unconventional path — from competitive freestyle skier in Maine to Craigslist hire at the Neistat Brothers' studio — shaped him into the filmmaker he is today. The conversation spans filmmaking craft, the dangers of AI dependency, the power of perseverance over ideas, and what it truly means to get an independent film in front of audiences. We also talk about: The thematic parallels between Our Hero, Balthazar, and the 1995 indie classic Kids, including how both films straddle the line between being cautionary tales for parents and romanticized adventures for younger viewersThe growing role of AI tools like ChatGPT in everyday decision-making, and whether over-reliance on AI is creating a generation that can no longer think or fail independently — including the concept of "Gellman Amnesia" as a lens for understanding AI's credibility problemThe social media "validation machine" phenomenon, how algorithms reinforce existing beliefs and behaviors, and what that means for youth culture, mental health, and even real-world violenceThe importance of perseverance over ideas in the creative process, drawing on Casey Neistat's famous motto — "Ideas are common, perseverance is rare" — and how Oscar applied that philosophy to his own career and filmmaking journeyThe practical and ethical considerations of using firearms and blank-firing weapons on an indie film set in the post-Rust era, including the critical role of a professional armorer and the creative reasoning behind using blanks for actor authenticity People, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned: People Oscar Boyson Casey Neistat Van Neistat Ricky Camilleri Nate DeYoung Josh & Benny Safdie Greta Gerwig Noah Baumbach Tom Sachs Frank Gehry Asa Butterfield Jaeden Martell Stephen Phelps Christopher Messina Lena Dunham Sam Lisenco Harmony Korine Rosario Dawson Chloë Sevigny Roger Ebert Gene Siskel Oscar Hammerstein II Oscar Micheaux Oscar Isaac Oscar Levant Dick Gregory MrBeast Jordan Gallant (composer) Spike Lee Spike Jonze David Fincher Gaspar Noé Andrew Tate Big Mike (Oscar’s father) Elise (Oscar’s sister) Films Our Hero, Balthazar Kids (1995) Frances Ha Good Time Heaven Knows What Adolescence The Odyssey Boogie Nights Trainspotting Taxi Driver Straw Dogs (1971) Jour de fête The Last Temptation of Christ Irréversible Ex Machina A Most Violent Year Lady Be Good (1941) State Fair (1945) TV Shows The Neistat Brothers Platforms, Websites & Tools ChatGPT / OpenAI Craigslist Vimeo The Wayback Machine Digital Cinema Package (DCP) Art House Convergence Places Williams Center Nashville, Tennessee Maryland Lower Antioch / Woodbine — Nashville neighborhoods Maine New York City North Texas Hawaii Tribeca Festival Nashville Film Festival Belcourt Theatre Regal Opry Mills Products & Brands Tesla Supercharger Tesla app Canon EOS 5D Mark II Chick-fil-A Concepts & References Gell-Mann Amnesia Effect Parasocial relationships The Covenant School shooting Nineteen Eighty-Four Stoneman Douglas / Parkland Four-walling “Ideas are common, perseverance is rare” — Casey Neistat motto “Movies are empathy machines” — Roger Ebert We are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters.  So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating, or giving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT www.themakeitpodcast.store/shop/support Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Hello, Hello! In this episode, Kevin Goetz, Hollywood's leading audience research expert and founder of Screen Engine, shares one of his most humbling professional mistakes — advising Mattel's entertainment team to walk away from the Barbie movie project before it became a global cultural phenomenon. Kevin reflects on how he misread early research data that showed limited audience interest in a Barbie film, and how a visionary filmmaker, a bold creative pivot, and a brilliant marketing strategy transformed a seemingly doomed IP into one of the highest-grossing films in history. This conversation is a masterclass in intellectual humility, the limits of data, and the power of creative conviction. We also talk about: How Kevin's proprietary "capability testing technique" works — measuring awareness, interest, intensity, and format preference — and why even well-executed research has its limits when creative transformation hasn't yet occurredThe behind-the-scenes story of how Greta Gerwig pitched her vision for Barbie in a New York brownstone, describing the film as existing "somewhere between a stiletto and a Birkenstock," and how that single creative framing changed everythingWhy two previous Barbie film attempts — one with Anne Hathaway and one with Amy Schumer — never made it to production, and what pattern Kevin saw that made him skeptical a third attempt would succeedHow Barbie's marketing team turned the color pink into a full visual language and cultural movement, driving audiences to theaters dressed in Pepto-Bismol pink and making the film a genuine zeitgeist momentHow this pivotal mistake reshaped Kevin's approach to advising clients, leading him to offer a new kind of hope to filmmakers and studios working with IP or projects that appear to have limited audience potential on paper People, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned: People Kevin Goetz Robbie Brenner  Margot Robbie Tom Ackerley  Greta Gerwig Noah Baumbach Ryan Gosling America Ferrera Issa Rae Anne Hathaway Amy Schumer Companies & Organizations Screen Engine/ASI Mattel Simon & Schuster  Films & Franchises Barbie (2023) Dallas Buyers Club Fast & Furious franchise List of Barbie films  Books Audienceology How to Score in Hollywood Podcasts Don't Kill the Messenger Mattel IP Referenced Barbie  Hot Wheels Websites & Social Media KevinGoetz360.com We are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters.  So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating, or giving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT All Links: https://themakeitpodcast.store Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Hello, Hello! In this episode, AI Hosts Alex Ivey and Allison Inverness dive deep into the extraordinary life and career of Nathaniel Nuon, a Cambodian refugee-turned Emmy-winning filmmaker who transformed personal and financial limitations into groundbreaking creative work. They explore how a childhood spent watching a broken, silent television set trained Nathaniel's brain to become a master storyteller, and how that same constraint-driven mindset led him to make an Emmy-winning short film about one of history's most overlooked genocides. From designing a feature film specifically for visually impaired audiences to using a cheap VR gaming puck to replicate Hollywood-grade camera tracking, Nathaniel's story is a masterclass in turning obstacles into innovation. We also talk about: How Nathaniel's Cambodian refugee background and his family's adoption of American names shaped his identity and creative driveThe psychological science behind why cognitive constraints — like missing audio — can actually hardwire the brain to become a more powerful problem-solving storytellerThe concept of inclusive design in filmmaking and how designing for marginalized audiences (such as the visually impaired) can unintentionally produce a richer, more atmospheric experience for all audiencesThe culture and output of Full Sail University as a 24/7 creative incubator, and how its high-pressure environment produced 140 graduates who worked on Oscar-nominated films in a single yearA forward-looking philosophical question about the future of filmmaking: as AI, LED walls, and game engines make visual perfection cheap and ubiquitous, will audiences eventually crave the imperfection of practical, physical effects just to feel something authentically human? People, Places, Products, and References Mentioned: People Nathaniel Nuon Jordan Ladd  Valerie Jane Parker  Films & Projects Residue  The Voices  Shows Referenced Mister Ed John Wick Marvel Cinematic Universe Organizations & Companies Nuon Films 3rd Realm Creations Full Sail University Technology & Products HTC Vive Tracker LED walls / virtual production RED ARRI Alexa DSLR cameras Viagra (sildenafil) Uber Historical Events & Concepts *Operation Menu Khmer Rouge Audio description Parallax *This was actually a US Air Force operation, not a CIA operation — Strategic Air Command B-52 strikes authorized by Nixon and Kissinger (1969–70), kept secret from Congress. The CIA did run separate covert programs in Cambodia, including training Cambodian irregulars, which is the premise Residue actually dramatizes. We are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters.  So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating, or giving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT Subscribe: https://themakeitpodcast.store/shop/support Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands