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

Matt and Oren chat with Creative Director JK Lyons about how you can stand out as a director. And they dive deep into what is in your reel, book, or portfolio. Does it make a statement about your personality? Can somebody tell this is truly you?And they talk about actions you can take so that you're part of the CD's team, and not just a hire. Because at the end of the day, that is what makes you more pleasurable to work with.Help Matts' film: https://wefunder.com/badfeeling Help our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPodMatt's Endorsement: Akira Kurasaw Retrospective Film Festival at the Academy Theartre. "The Joint", a combination coffe shop / fish shop, on Ventura Blvd in Sherman Oaks. http://www.jointseafood.com/Oren's Endorsement: Use Claude.ai to come up with actions for multiple OCP (on camera personalities) that you can share with casting for your ads.JK's Endorsement: "Lasita" Pilipino Rotisserie in Chinatown, Los Angeles. http://www.lasita-la.com/ The movie "True Lives" with Arnold Schwarzenegger 

Matt and Oren talk about what they love to see from actors. How many takes should you do? What if you drop a line in an audition? And what’s the best way to ask questions?It’s a great episode on the little things actors have done and gotten booked. As well as the mistakes actors have made that worked against them.It’s funny, because Matt and Oren agree on a lot. But while some things are cringe to one of them, the same things are endearing to the other.This is the episode that helps put in perspective the casting and audition process and the little things that make a difference in how professional you come across.Help Matts' film: https://wefunder.com/badfeelingHelp our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPodMatt's Endorsement: "Project Hail Mary" with Ryan Gosling. And Adam Savage's video about the practical set https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CO6oyFP14rUOren's Endorsement: soft closing mechanisms for kitchen drawers.

Where do you fit in, as a director? That’s what Matt and Oren are talking about on this episode of Just Shoot It!What does that mean? Think of this: what makes you just the right director for a certain script, or a certain commercial spot? Is it your ability to write quirky quick-paced dialogue and convince people to fund it? Or is it your unique way of shooting walk and talks that makes it easy for agencies to sell you to their brands?In this episode Matt and Oren share about their journey to find out how they fit in. And that journey starts, believe it or not, with understanding that the journey exists. And that’s why the guys dive into why it can be so difficult to identify the elements of your filmmaking that are unique to your life experiences, point of view, and your personality.And they also talk about the next step, which might even be harder. And that is, once you know who you are, how do you communicate it through your reel and track-record of projects in a way that makes sense to producers, agencies, and clients?This is an episode you won’t want to miss that goes into the subtleties a-b-o-u-t your directing, that can be even more important to your success as your director. Not what you do to audiences, but how you get it across to people that can hire you.Help Matt's film: https://wefunder.com/badfeelingHelp our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPodMatt's Endorsement: John Wilson: How To Make a Podcast | Doomscroll https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLhBO-_I34kOren's Endorsement: Vehicle Motion Cues iPhone feature https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iphone-comfortably-riding-a-vehicle-iph55564cb22/ios

Annemarie Jacir has an amazing career that span directing for Hulu’s “Ramy” with comic Ramy Youssef, as well as jurying for Telluride, Cannes, and Sundance. And she chats with Oren and Matt about bringing her latest film “Palestine 36” to life.Jeremy Irons stars in this Oscar-submitted film, Annemarie’s fourth, that played at TIFF and AFI. Set in Palestine in 1936, this historical fiction weaves between events in recent memory to tell a story about Palestinian villages’ revolt against British colonial rule.And on the pod, Annemarie shares her love of filmmaking and the pursuit of their 8-year long project, the funding, the controversy, as well as the details and passion behind the production design and architectural accuracy. And she describes a level of commitment and passion far exceeding the Hollywood norm.Yet when asked if this is a political film, the discussion transcends the cultural flashpoints. You won’t want to miss this episode if you want to understand “what is filmmaking”. Because on this episode Matt and Oren explore that question from perspectives film schools may not.Find Annemarie on IG @annamariajacir or @palestine36film and the website is Palestine36.com.---Help Matts' film: https://wefunder.com/badfeelingHelp our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPodMatt's Endorsement: 100 or 1000 Water balloon filler https://www.amazon.com/Water-Balloons-Swimming-Outdoor-Summer/dp/B0GWD8XGWK/Oren's Endorsement: How to Speak by Patirck Winston, on YouTube https://youtu.be/Unzc731iCUY?si=82KVMF9jIyfDH-n9Annemarie's Endorsement: A ceramic self-watering device for plants https://www.amazon.com/Reifier-10-Pack-Natural-Watering-Spikes/dp/B0BGQPKLCP

You know them as BriTANick https://www.britanick.com/ and their latest feature, “Pizza Movie” debuts on Hulu on April 3! Now Brian McElhaney and Nick Kocher join Matt and Oren and reveal how they keep new ideas flowing.These guys have written for SNL and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” and they were the voice of Comedy Central. But they learned a lot shooting this feature, their first departure from a run-and-gun, indie style.Working with DP Bella Gonzales highlighted both the freedom and constraints that come with a bigger budget. It was different, but at the end of the day, they found a way you can use to keep doing the things you always have, with your “travelling carnival family”.Matt and Oren chat about the science of timing. What’s the cadence of comedy? Is there a science to timing and beats? And can you boil it down to a unifying theory of timing --- one where scary movies and funny movies are really the same art?Best of all, there’s some honest talk about that constant feeling of “damn, what I’m seeing isn’t what I’m really, really happy with”. And strategies you can use to move on, and not let it hamper your work.Follow BriTANick on https://www.youtube.com/c/britanick and https://www.patreon.com/BriTANicK--- Help Matts' film: https://wefunder.com/badfeelingHelp our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPodMatt's Endorsement: the director's commentary for the "The Witch" by Nick Robinson on YouTubeOren's Endorsement: Go Kart kit for the Gyroor Hoverboard https://www.amazon.com/Rsq-Nylon-Shorts-Black-Medium/dp/B0FBLGQMSY?ref_=ast_sto_dp&psc=1Brian's Endorsement: "Nasal Fresh MD" nasal flushNick's Endorsement: Playboy Magazine's Collection of Interviews With Directors: the Book

Travis Wood & Alex Mallis are living the director’s dream! Their feature film "The Travel Companion" https://thetravelcompanionfilm.com/ premiered at Tribeca, they have distribution through Oscilloscope, and they’re touring theaters across the country. And now they're on to the next big thing, and this time the goal is to make one dollar on their next film.And that’s how they start chatting with Matt and Oren about the importance of the metrics and ruler you choose to value yourself. And why that is so important as a filmmaker today.Ten years ago, there were a lot more outlets looking for films. But if you were around then, you probably remember hearing the same thing about the market ten years before that! Fast-forward to eight years ago, and picture this – that’s the day Travis wrote an email to Oren, hoping to connect and pick his brain about how to get directing opportunities in LA.Since then, Travis landed a Vimeo staff pick under their belt. And they took an idea they hatched at a film festival and turned it into a feature. But it was far from easy. And man, did they learn a lot about finding financiers, writing dialogue that sounds real, and how to keep having fun through the long years of waiting for people to respond and money to come in.And Matt really keys in on the advice they have on how to keep control over your filmmaking process, even when everything seems like it’s dependent on others. This is an uplifting episode with a lot of great practical tips and ways to go about your filmmaking process in 2026!Help Matt's film: https://wefunder.com/badfeelingHelp our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPodMatt's Endorsement: Kurosawa's "High and Low" https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057565/Oren's Endorsement: The 12-liter dog poop trash can is the ideal sizeTravis's Endorsement: Chip's Ahoy CookiesAaron's Endorsement: "Teddy Out of Tune" https://www.teddyoutoftune.com/ is re-releasing on Blu-ray

Aaron Pagniano https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3142582/ talks about their new micro-budget feature film "It Needs Eyes" and they share secrets to overcoming hurdles when you don’t have a ton of money to play with.Matt and Oren get a lot of info, like how much money you really net when you raise, say $60,000 on Kickstarter. As well as the secret to affording 35 mm film stock and a Panavision when your budget is limited.Aaron’s big on building a crew that is excited to work within the budget. And they’ve learned a lot about writing the script to your budget and skillset. And if you’re trying to get your film distributed, Aaron has some insight into shady sales agents and distribution companies and all the ways they will get your film in and cheat you out of the upside and reward.Find Aaron at https://www.formidablefilefilms.com/ and on IG @formidablefilefilmsHelp Matts' film: https://wefunder.com/badfeelingHelp our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPodMatt's Endorsement: Chris Gethard on "The Vulture" podcast and the nature of DIY and punk rock ethics in comedy, and there's no longer a middle class of comedy.Oren's Endorsement: The Original Proper Popper Silicone Microwave Bowl and "The Pitt" on HBOAaron's Endorsement: Colorado Gators & Reptile Park https://www.coloradofunguide.com/colorado-gators-reptile-park/

As directors, we live a very atypical work life. And Carlyn joins Oren and Matt to clear the air about some frustrations they all share about producers and crew who just aren’t meeting the grade.In any given year, a working director will interview for 150 commercial opportunities and land 20 or so. So while the rest of the world applies for 150 jobs and gets scores of interviews, and lands a few offers for employment for several years, a director interviews a ton to get 20 jobs that maybe last 1 week each.So it’s all about client service. Getting asked back (i.e. repeat business). Not getting bogged down fixing yesterday’s shoot, and having it impact the next pitch you’re working. And, doing the little things that make clients really enjoy working with you.With stiff competition from other directors, who you choose to be on your team is critical to creating work you feel good about and making sure there’s time to do the job 100% awesome.So what about those people you’ve known forever, but just aren’t bringing the level of work you’ve come to expect from them – whether DP, cam op, production designer, producer, or even PA? How do you let them know? You certainly don’t want to be a d**k, and you’re aware of their feelings, but what’s the best way to get the truth in the air? And how do you know when to move or split up?This episode is an open door on the complaining that’s usually private. And it’s also the episode with solutions for you as a director, producer, DP, or any crew member on set or off.----Help Matts' film: https://wefunder.com/badfeelingHelp our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPodMatt's Endorsement: Chloe Zhao "Hamnet" Dance TapesOren's Endorsement: The Original Proper Popper Silicone Microwave BowlCarlyn's Endorsement: The Peanut Ball spine massager. And Fage Greek Yogurt with grapefruit, pistachios, and a touch of flake salt.