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

Jeff Wadlow talks about his new film "The Devil's Mouth". And Matt and Oren get him to reveal how we went from a spec script for “Kick Ass 2” to directing the movie.Jeff talks about his time at USC Stark and how understanding producing gave him an edge and also landed him a free 1967 Mustang to boot! What’s his formula for success: never accepting a blanket allocation for contingency. And he talks about the ways he navigates around it and keeps his bosses happy and involved in the process.Jeff says there are only two questions producers are really asking you when you’re up for a directing assignment against other well-qualified directors. And he shares those secrets as well as why he took part in writing “Bates Motel” even after telling the showrunner they should drop the idea and run far away.You won’t want to miss this episode if you’ve ever thought things would be golden after your last great gig, only to find out there were hard times ahead. And Jeff talks about how and why his impressive IMDB is the result of many ups and downs just like yours.Help Matts' film: https://wefunder.com/badfeelingHelp our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPodMatt's Endorsement: "Widow's Island" showOren's Endorsement: "The Comeback" showJeff's Endorsement: "X-Men '97" show

Travis Braun talks getting on the Blacklist multiple times and why his film, “One Night Only” checked all the boxes to land there tooBut first, Matt and Oren chat about social media, how to take advantage of the algorithm, and how to keep fresh ideas in your feed.Travis didn’t start at film school, he went to a small journalism school in Indiana. But working in a writing room led to his first break. It wasn’t much to begin with, sitting on a couch outside the writers' room and listening to them break story, while organizing binders, taking notes, and getting coffee.But after being in lots of writers' rooms over the years since, the best takeaway from all those experiences was learning not to be precious about words. It’s the ideas that matter, because that is what audiences are looking for and want. And unfortunately, the path to those ideas involves lots of rewriting.Matt and Oren dive deep into the value of being on the Blacklist, not only once you’re getting started in your career, but once you’re established as a director. And Travis talks about what he looks for when hiring a director. You won’t want to miss this episode if, like many directors, you haven’t had the chance to be in a writing room that really hums!Help Matts' film: https://wefunder.com/badfeelingHelp our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPodMatt's Endorsement: "Green Room" the film https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4062536- Supergoop https://supergoop.com/ non-zinc sunscreen - "Arco" film on Hulu about a boy who time travels https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14883538/Oren's Endorsement: "Split Fiction" for Nintendo Switch https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/split-fiction-switch-2/Travis' Endorsement: Seth Rogan and Orange cats 

Eric Appel talks about the benefits of improv experience and how it shaped his career, from his latest film “The Breadwinner”, which stars Nate Bargatze, Mandy Moore, and Colin Jost, to working with Weird Al and Aron Paul. And Matt and Oren chat with Eric about not being married to your own ideas and various methods to “yes and” with style. And they talk about the balance between being fully committed to the best creative, without coming off as uncommitted to your own ideas.And avoiding the appearance that because you aren't married to all ideas, you aren't committed to getting the best work.You won’t want to miss this episode if you’re dying to hear from a film and TV commercial director who knows how to win bread at both!Help Matts' film: https://wefunder.com/badfeelingHelp our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPodMatt's Endorsement: Caligriphr app to draw your own fonts https://www.calligraphr.com/Oren's Endorsement: @adamjayrotstein on IG.Eric's Endorsement: Ween's 30th Anniversary special release of "12 Golden and Country Greats" 3-album series.

Matt and Oren engage in a lively chat about how to create passion projects that advance your career and add to your reel. Do you know the 4 types of projects? What about the how to make them stand out?And the guys dive into the balance between projects that get you recognition and those that build your craftsmanship. As well as some of the specifics of what makes a good spec commercial. And who can and should use a film as a spec commercial?Oren talks about the things that festival programmers are looking for in short films. And things you can do to make your short film stand out above the crowd.Finally, Matt talks about web series and ways to use them to demonstrate your ability to find an audience. You won’t want to miss the episode if you’re dying to shoot something that goes somewhere!Help Matts' film: https://wefunder.com/badfeelingHelp our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPodMatt's Endorsement: Arduino Starter Kit https://store-usa.arduino.cc/products/arduino-starter-kit-multi-languageOren's Endorsement: Ant Farms

Oren's July went from being overbooked and bidding wars for his time, to nothing at all coming to fruition. And now he has free time on his hands... too much free time.So Matt and Oren chat about the down times. Those time when it's easy to spiral into always wondering if you'll ever work again. You know the feeling.And the guys talk about how to fight the sense of not being productive, when you’re not busy producing work. And they dive into some effective strategies to get the attention of people who can get you work. Even when they are too busy to think of you.It’s about learning to expect to the unexpected time-off. And you won’t want to miss this episode if you’re a freelancer in the film industry, director, or actor.Help Matts' film: https://wefunder.com/badfeelingHelp our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPodMatt's Endorsement: Flume Water AppOren's Endorsement: Ten One podcast by Freddy Powell of Drool

With the year in swing and clients shooting, Matt and Oren talk about challenges they’re experiencing on set and some interesting solutions to some common problems to all commercial directors.Matt kicks it off talking about the unique kind of loneliness you feel as the director on set.All leaders experience it, but in the film and commercial world there are particular challenges that stem from working with crews and clients. And Oren responds with some ways he communicates and gets everybody on board, without being a tyrant or a know-it-all.The guys talks about how they implement previz, the objectives, the cameras they use, and how many previz can be involved in a commercial. And Oren shares how he used AI to help clients better envision the spot with different location choices.If you’re shooting 12, 15 or 100 spots per day like Matt and Oren, then you’ll find some really useful information you can’t live without!Help Matts' film: https://wefunder.com/badfeelingHelp our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPodMatt's Endorsement: "Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat" https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22074164/Oren's Endorsement: Printable Star Wars characters that you print on card stock, cut out, and fold. Google "paper craft". https://cubeecraft.com/ in one of them.

Robert Boocheck talks about the three ways commercial directors land jobs. But first Oren and Matt chat about California's Billionaire tax, its impact on the film industry, and why it is and isn't a great solution.Then Oren and Matt dive deep and quiz Robert on making relationships in the industry and what's the best way to break into the commercial industry as a film director. Which take Robert into a discussion of times when the waves of work stop, and it's just crickets, and you wonder if you'll ever work again. And he shares how you can get used to it, even though don't really ever feel comfortable with it.But Oren's take is, there's actually not slow times. Sounds weird, but he talks about how his agent at ArtClass and how they positioned themselves to kep getting work, even when the industry says "it's slow out there".Connect with Robert on IG @@little_lurkersHelp Matts' film: https://wefunder.com/badfeelingHelp our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPodMatt's Endorsement: Oren's popcorn device. Jesse James McElroy video on 3 headsOren's Endorsement: "Storm" by Gener8thion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6_mbnsh6VURobert's Endorsement: Julia Wertz books "Impossible People" and "Drinking at the Movies". Also "The Mountain" by Gorillaz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucRulNQsuYQ

Fallon Anderson, Creative Director at Tailfin agency https://tailfin.com/ talks about making a Super Bowl commercial and her method for elevating creative.And Matt and Oren dive deep into her process, what she values, and how she chooses commercial directors to hire. And that spurs Fallon to disclose how hard the agency fights for the vision of the director and how she’s learned to prioritize which hill is worth dying on.Oren points out that the major difference between the creative war with a studio, for the vision of your feature, and that with a client, for the vision of their commercial, is that the studio wants the film to win awards. But a client wants to sell product. And Fallon talks about the road she took to learn how to navigate that fundamental difference.Finally, Fallon talks about director reels, what she likes, and what helps directors get shortlisted. You won’t want to miss this episode if you’re dying to understand how agencies think and how commercial directors get hired!Find Fallon on LinkedIn @fallonandersonHelp Matts' film: https://wefunder.com/badfeelingHelp our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPodMatt's Endorsement: "Bridge Over the River Kwai" https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050212 and "Persepolis" https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0808417/Oren's Endorsement: https://vimeo.com/173714Fallon's Endorsement: the original Krispy Kreme donut