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What happens when your phone addiction becomes a matter of life and death? On this episode of Filmmaker Mixer, writer-director Max Rissman discusses DOOM SCROLL, an absurd comedy about a couple so consumed by their phones that they become paralyzed and face the threat of dying from thirst and starvation.In this conversation, Max explores developing an unconventional premise, writing comedy with real stakes, directing performances, and using visual storytelling and editing to make absurd situations work on screen. Independent filmmakers and film students can learn practical lessons about crafting short films, building comedic tension, and turning a familiar cultural problem into a cinematic story.DOOM SCROLL screens at the 2026 Austin Film Festival on Friday, October 30, at 3:30 p.m. at St. David's Episcopal Church, Bethel Hall. Subscribe to Filmmaker Mixer for more conversations with writers, directors, and independent filmmakers about the craft behind their work.

How do you make a story about the Grim Reaper funny, moving, and deeply human? On this episode of the Filmmaker Mixer Podcast, writer-director Ela Thier discusses her feature film 109 Billion Followers, starring J.K. Simmons, Olivia Simmons, Nina Arianda, and Jake Ryan. We explore the creative decisions behind this unconventional dramedy, from developing a guarded protagonist and balancing comedy with mortality to portraying complicated parent-child relationships and building a visual and musical language with longtime collaborators. Independent filmmakers will gain insight into writing emotionally layered characters, directing performances, and turning an ambitious concept into a feature film. 🏆 109 Billion Followers premieres in competition at the Austin Film Festival on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at 4:40 PM CT at the Bullock IMAX Theater. An additional screening takes place Tuesday, November 3, at 4:40 PM CT at the Galaxy Theater. 🎬 Subscribe to Filmmaker Mixer for conversations with filmmakers about the craft, challenges, and creative decisions behind the movies we love.

What does it take to bring a bizarre, unsettling story to life on screen? On this episode of Filmmaker Mixer, actress and producer Maddi Lucas joins us to discuss Anaimia, a 13-minute short written and directed by Drew Saplin and premiering at the 2026 Austin Film Festival in the “Best Lil’ Shorts in Austin” program. The film follows a pregnant woman preparing to sell her home whose bizarre cravings lead to an increasingly disturbing situation involving a Realtor and a half-eaten bag of mulch. Maddi shares insights into her acting process, the challenges of producing an independent short, working with a director to establish tone, and balancing dark comedy with unsettling material. Filmmakers can learn about performance choices, creative collaboration, and making a distinctive story work within a short runtime. Subscribe to Filmmaker Mixer for conversations with the filmmakers, actors, writers, and directors bringing independent cinema to life.

What happens when a DreamWorks animation veteran decides to make a film almost entirely on his own? Carlos F. Puertolas, Head of Animation at DreamWorks, joins the Filmmaker Mixer Podcast to discuss How Not to Die on an Alien Planet, his animated short about a small robot exploring an alien world after an emergency landing with its human captain. Carlos made the film using Blender, working just one hour a day over the course of a year. We discuss the creative decisions behind the short, the challenges of working solo after years in studio animation, embracing imperfection, and finding time for personal projects. The film is screening at the 2026 Austin Film Festival. If you're an independent filmmaker, animator, film student, or creator trying to make ambitious work with limited time and resources, this conversation offers practical ideas for getting your own project moving.

How do you make an independent feature that blends romantic comedy, crime, and a striking black-and-white visual style? On this episode of Filmmaker Mixer, we sit down with Australian filmmakers Lucy Green and DC Fairhurst to discuss Pickpockets, their feature film about a flirty rivalry between a lone-wolf pickpocket and a charming rookie that escalates into an all-out war. Co-written, co-produced, and starring Lucy Green and DC Fairhurst, with DC directing, Pickpockets features Tim Minchin, Zoe Terakes, Darren Gilshenan, and Mia Morrissey. We explore the creative decisions behind the film's selective use of colour, the realities of wearing multiple hats on an independent production, collaborating as writer-performers, and bringing an Australian indie feature to an international festival audience. Pickpockets screens at the Austin Film Festival on Saturday, October 31, at 9:20 PM at the State Theatre, and Monday, November 2, at 4:00 PM at Galaxy Theatre. This conversation offers practical insights for indie filmmakers, screenwriters, actors, and producers looking to turn ambitious creative ideas into finished films.

What does it take to make a movie almost entirely out of paper? In this episode of the Filmmaker Mixer Podcast, filmmaker and animator Julian Curi—better known as Righteous Robot—takes us behind the scenes of his handmade animated shorts. Julian talks about designing and building paper characters and sets, puppeteering, cinematography, editing, visual effects and building an enormous audience on YouTube. For filmmakers, this is a fascinating look at how a highly individual visual style can become an entire filmmaking process—and how an independent creator can build an audience around that process.

What happens when the desire to escape a dead-end life leads to devastating consequences? On the Filmmaker Mixer Podcast, producer Marge Scimeca, writer/director Jesse Scimeca, and lead actor Alia Williams join us to discuss Cedar Bluff, a coming-of-age crime thriller premiering at the 2026 Austin Film Festival.The film follows a pregnant young woman who falls for a reckless robber and joins his crime spree in pursuit of freedom. We explore the creative decisions behind the story, developing complex characters, balancing coming-of-age drama with crime-thriller suspense, approaching emotionally demanding performances, and the practical challenges of producing independent films.Whether you're an indie filmmaker, screenwriter, actor, or film enthusiast, this conversation offers insight into bringing a character-driven story to the screen.🎬 Subscribe to Filmmaker Mixer for conversations with the filmmakers, writers, actors, and creative professionals bringing movies to life.

What does it take to turn a night of personal despair into an unpredictable, award-winning dark comedy? On this episode of Filmmaker Mixer, we sit down with writer-director J. Davis, Mike Castle (Brews Brothers), and Andre Hyland (Barry).We explore the craft of dark comedy, building believable characters in absurd situations, directing performances, managing the challenges of independent production, and bringing a distinctive creative vision to the screen.

What does it take to turn the specialized world of vintage watch collecting into a compelling documentary? On this episode of Filmmaker Mixer, director Chris Gary and vintage watch dealer Adam Golden discuss Chasing Time, a documentary exploring the collectors, dealers, auction houses, and watchmakers who keep this fascinating culture alive. The film makes its world premiere at the 2026 Austin Film Festival.Chris Gary takes us inside the creative process of making a documentary about a niche subject with universal appeal, from gaining access to a close-knit community to capturing the craftsmanship and history behind extraordinary timepieces. Adam Golden offers an insider's perspective on the people and passion driving the vintage watch market.For documentary filmmakers, indie creators, and film students, this conversation explores finding a story within a specialized subject, building trust with documentary subjects, making technical material accessible, and connecting a specific world to a broader audience.🎬 Subscribe to Filmmaker Mixer for filmmaker interviews, creative insights, and conversations about how movies actually get made.

Matthew and Daniel Kooman join Filmmaker Mixer to take us behind the making of Daniel and the Fiery Furnace, an independently financed biblical drama that opened in more than 1,500 theaters and earned over $3.3 million at the domestic box office. The brothers served as writers, directors, and producers, bringing the world of ancient Babylon and the story of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to the screen.We talk about adapting familiar source material, creating an epic world on an independent budget, directing large-scale sequences, working as brothers, balancing faith and storytelling, and what they learned from taking an independently produced film to a nationwide theatrical audience.A valuable conversation for filmmakers interested in directing, producing, screenwriting, independent film, and theatrical distribution.

What happens when an unwanted kitten changes everything? 🎬 On this episode of Filmmaker Mixer, we sit down with filmmaker Alec C. Cohen and actors Charlie McDermott and Vanessa Marango to discuss PETUNIA, a warm and moving film based on a true story and premiering at the Austin Film Festival.At 25, aspiring photographer Alex is struggling to find his artistic voice when his girlfriend, Lily, gives him a kitten for his birthday. What begins as an unwanted responsibility becomes an unexpected bond that transforms his photography and tests their relationship when Petunia becomes ill. We explore character development, adapting real-life experiences for the screen, working with animals, balancing comedy and drama, and using visual storytelling to reveal a character's emotional growth.Whether you're an independent filmmaker, actor, screenwriter, film student, or festival enthusiast, this conversation offers insights into building authentic characters and turning everyday experiences into compelling cinema.Subscribe to Filmmaker Mixer for more conversations with the filmmakers and artists behind independent film.

Director Rachel Klein joins the Filmmaker Mixer Podcast to discuss SAVING 4 SECONDS, a powerful documentary following the families, advocates, and Golden Gate Bridge employees working to prevent suicide and change the bridge's history. Filmed over six years, the documentary combines deeply personal stories, political advocacy, and previously unseen bridge surveillance footage documenting employees intervening to save lives.Rachel takes us behind the scenes of making a long-term documentary, from earning the trust of grieving families and gaining access to bridge workers to filming beneath the Golden Gate Bridge in harnesses and shaping years of footage into a compelling story. Independent filmmakers will gain insight into documentary research, access, ethical storytelling, working in challenging environments, and using filmmaking to bring attention to an issue that matters.Saving 4 Seconds will premiere at the 33rd Austin Film Festival.

What does it take to create the music behind a major motion picture? On this episode of the Filmmaker Mixer Podcast, Grammy-winning music supervisor Julia Michels takes us behind the soundtrack of The Devil Wears Prada 2—nearly twenty years after working on the original film. With Julia Michels now up for Grammy consideration for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media for her music supervision on The Devil Wears Prada 2, we dive into the creative work behind one of the year's most anticipated movie soundtracks.Julia shares insights into her return to the franchise, her collaboration with Lady Gaga on new music, including “Runway” with Doechii, and how rising artist Sienna Spiro's “Material Lover” found its place in the film.With credits including A Star Is Born, The Greatest Showman, the Pitch Perfect trilogy, and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, Julia offers a rare look at the craft of music supervision. Learn how music supervisors discover emerging artists, pitch songs to established performers, navigate creative relationships, and balance a filmmaker's vision with the realities of music licensing.Whether you're an independent filmmaker, film student, director, producer, or music lover, this conversation offers practical insight into how the right song can transform a scene and help a movie connect with audiences.Subscribe to Filmmaker Mixer for conversations with the filmmakers and creative professionals behind the movies.

Composer Philip White joins Filmmaker Mixer to discuss the music behind Spa Weekend, the 2026 comedy directed by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore and starring Leslie Mann, Isla Fisher, Michelle Buteau, Anna Faris, and Adam Demos. White takes us inside the creative decisions behind the original score and how he approached a movie built around friendship, chaos, and comedy.

Cinematographer Shawn Peters joins the Filmmaker Mixer Podcast to talk about bringing A Different World into a new era for Netflix. Shawn discusses the challenge of moving the beloved series from its original multi-cam format to single-cam, while preserving its spirit. He also reflects on his experience shooting short films on 16mm, his love of still photography, and the creative philosophy that inspires him to challenge norms and see filmmaking in new ways.