Just Shoot It: A Podcast about Filmmaking, Screenwriting and Directing

Can a well-timed email get you on SNL as a director? Oz Rodriguez made it happen. But TV was a whole different game back then! The formula, though, remains the same: great comedy actors make comedy directors look great.Oren and Matt chat with Oz about how directors can cast incredible comedic talent. Plus, Oz spills secrets on getting the best performances from actors.Ever wondered what it's like to shoot a video for SNL? Or how much creative freedom a director really has under the watchful eye of Lorne Michaels and some of the best comedy writers in the world? Oz covers it all. He doesn’t hold back, sharing both his setbacks and how he turned them into successes.If you love comedy, this episode is a must-listen!Find Oz Rodriguez on IMDb: https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm1444412 and Instagram: @oz_rodriguez. Be sure to check out his first book, The Girl and the Robot: https://books.disney.com/book/the-girl-and-the-robot/.---Matt's Endorsement: The movie Love Lies Bleeding https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19637052/Oren's Endorsement: Pinterest now has an awesome algorithm and is super useful for storyboards and lookboards.The show The Studio on Apple TV https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23649128/The show Adolescence on Netflix https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31806037/Oz's Endorsements: Dia Natural Wine Shop https://www.dianaturalwine.com/The movie Mickey 17 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12299608/And also, go to the movies! Like, see a Soderbergh film on the big screen.

Matt and Oren take a hard look at the current state of the film and TV industry in the wake of the LA fires, pandemic, strikes, AI, and streaming. It’s some real talk about the challenges facing production, including tax incentives, union rates, and the ongoing struggle to keep jobs from leaving the LA area.And they explore potential solutions to get more production peeps working regularly and keep productions from being forced into shooting in places like Austin, Atlanta, Columbia, Mexico, and everywhere else.From analyzing the role of tax breaks to discussing union wage negotiations, this is an insider's perspective on what it will take for the industry to get more people working regularly.---Get a great deal on Magic Mind! https://magicmind.com/shootitMatt's Endorsement: Use graph paper.Oren's Endorsement: Sesame AI voice https://www.sesame.com/ 

Geremy Jasper https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3017455/ , the visionary behind the stylized rock musical "O'dessa" on Hulu https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26304178 , shares the journey of bringing his ambitious project to life, from signing acclaimed talents like Sadie Sink and Regina Hall to crafting an original album for the film. Despite having just one feature under his belt, he successfully secured financing and brought his vision to fruition. OK, his feature did screen at Sundance, but still! Tune in as he reflects on the challenges, the motivation that kept him going, and the lessons he'll carry into his next endeavor.---Get a great deal on Magic Mind! https://magicmind.com/shootit Matt's Endorsement: Buying wine from a local wine merchant can be a better value than purchasing at a grocery store.Oren's Endorsement: For the best posture while sitting, your legs should be at a 90 degree angle. You can use a foot rest to help achieve this alignment.Geremy's Endorsement: "The Boulet Brothers Dragula" the series, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6289132/ . It has fantastic art direction and costume design.

Pete Chatmon is one of those select few directors who is constantly working as a director on TV episodes from Ghosts, to Yellowjackets, Chicago Fire, and lots more. He's the host of the podcast Let's Shoot.Matt and Oren quiz Pete on how he sets people up to receive feedback and tough notes. And Pete talks about the importance of knowing what does not work, even though you thought it might. Off which , Oren shares how some brutal feedback changed his career for the better. But unsolicited honest feedback... hmm what about that? That's a tough one. And the guys go deep into this from both sides, giving and receiving. Like real deep. And they talk about what happens when the response to your note is "I'm not doing that."But first, Matt talks about his latest shoot with Major League Baseball (MLB) superstars and what happens when you ask them to sing!---Get a great deal on Magic Mind! https://magicmind.com/shootit NEW LINK!!Matt's Endorsement: Watch the early works of your favorite directors, like "She's Gotta Have It", Spike Lee's first film.Oren's Endorsement: The podcast "Song Exploder" https://songexploder.net/episodes Also, once an avocado is ripe, if you're not ready to eat it, you can put it in the refrigerator.Pete's Endorsement: The podcast "What Went Wrong" https://www.whatwentwrongpod.com/

AWESOME EVENT! Help victims of the California wildfires (*) by attending a screening of a new episode of "Yellowjackets" with a discussion with Director Pete Chatmon at Let's Shoot at Dynasty Typewriter, Wed. Mar 19, 7:30 PM. Live and Streaming tickets are available at https://www.dynastytypewriter.com/calendar-squad-up?event-id=106932  (*) All proceeds benefit the Altadena Community Preservation Fund.ABOUT THIS EPISODE. Laura Murphy chats with Matt and Oren about directing her new film "F*** Marry Kill" https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22528200 In this second of a two-part interview, hear about bringing your kids to set, does it work? How about when you're shooting in a different country?Laura talks about her journey getting into commercials and the hurdles she overcame. And Matt & Oren chat with her about the future of indie filmmaking in light of Sean Baker's recent controversial opinion. On top of that, Laura shares her secrets to using improv to expand creativity, without killing the schedule.You can find Laura at @bestlauraever on both Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).---Get a great deal on Magic Mind! https://magicmind.com/shootit NEW LINK!!Matt's Endorsement: Sara Dosa and Katia & Maurice Krafft's film "Fire of Love" https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16227014Oren's Endorsement: If you're on a plane, and your eye is suddenly all red, it might be a ruptured blood vessel in your eye, which is ok. So just chill out. Do you find yourself saying, "Alexa, turn off"? You can simply say, "Alexa stop". And that requires 1 fewer syllables to say.The book, "The Anxious Generation", https://jonathanhaidt.com/anxious-generation/Laura's Endorsements: Shotdeck https://shotdeck.com/"Patriot", the series on Amazon Prime https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4687882"Love Island: All Stars", UK Version https://pro.imdb.com/title/tt28959685

Laura Murphy chats with Matt and Oren about directing her new film "F*** Marry Kill" https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22528200 And they talk about the process to become a director on a film like this, is there a list you need to be on? And what can directors do to get on the "list"?In this first of a two-part interview, you can hear whether being on time and on budget really makes a difference in the long run.  As a bonus, Matt and Oren kick things off with some insights from Oren's latest commercial shoot. It was a mix of knuckle-gripping ups and downs with weather, appendicitis, and near over budget calamity. And Oren reflects on the most important decisions he made. And he shows what directors need to do on set, when everything around you is pooping the bed. You can find Laura at @bestlauraever on both Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).---Get a great deal on Magic Mind! https://magicmind.com/shootit NEW LINK!!Endorsements -- check next week for Matt's, Oren's, and Laura's endorsements!