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

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/ 

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! 

Oren's on another commercial shoot and Matt's just started another new show! Everything's great, or is it? Matt and Oren chat about why the vision you pitch can be really, really hard in reality. Especially as budget, storyboard, timings, weather, and the nuances of handling this particular client unfold.And the guys go deep into a discussion of the first principles of filmmaking, and when might be a good time to break or rethink them. ---Get a great deal on Magic Mind! https://magicmind.com/shootit ** NEW LINK!!!Matt's Endorsement:  Animator Joe Cappa, maker of "Meet the Boys" and "Haha You Clowns" has the greatest pacing of his soft, bone-dry jokes. https://www.youtube.com/@JoeCappaOren's Endorsement: Using a stylized LUT while shooting (even though it might be dialed back) instead of defaulting to Rec 709. Doing so generates a conversation around style and feel, while on set with the client and gets them comfortable with a more stylized look before post starts.

First-time director Kyle Hausmann-Stokes IG @kylehausmannstokes https://www.instagram.com/kylehausmannstokes/ shares how he landed Ed Harris and Morgan Freeman for his film "My Dead Friend Zoe". https://mydeadfriendzoemovie.comIG @mydeadfriendzoe https://www.instagram.com/mydeadfriendzoe/And he chats with Oren and Matt about why his pitch was so successful. Hear the journey that led to the film’s big win at SXSW, as well as the ups and downs to maintain the project's momentum, land the rights to Rihanna's "Umbrella", and convince Travis Kelce to be an EP.“My Dead Friend Zoe” opens on 700 theatre screens on Feb. 28, 2025.---Get a great deal on Magic Mind! https://magicmind.com/shootitjanMatt's Endorsement: Cold Open for the SNL Music DocumentaryOren's Endorsement: Giggster can help you book locations and permits. https://giggster.com/Kyle's Endorsements: The Shottr screenshot app https://shottr.cc/ and non-alcoholic beer from Athletic Brewing Co. https://athleticbrewing.com/ Veterans in Media & Entertainment https://vmeconnect.org/The Mission Continues https://www.missioncontinues.org/Bob Woodward Foundation https://bobwoodrufffoundation.org/Every Town for Gun Safety https://www.everytown.org/

Executive Producer (EP) Eric McCasline talks about building his new, top-tier production company, Good Times. https://ItsGoodTimes.com/ And he chats with Matt and Oren about how directors can get on the roster, win jobs, and why you as a director need to know your lane and understand how reps will pitch you. It's a "Moneyballl" game to get on and stay on, are you playing your game right?The conversation goes deep into budgets, incentives, permits, fees as well as the shifting aesthetic of commercials. And the guys reveal why only top-tier work matters these days. So you gotta shoot way higher than the B-Team!!!---Get a great deal on Magic Mind! https://magicmind.com/shootitjanMatt's Endorsement: https://www.kimgehrig.com/ Patrick Tomaso's video "Why don't movies look like *movies* anymore?" https://youtu.be/EwTUM9cFeSo?si=8MV4niF9L7o-Uh6FOren's Endorsement: Use Photoshop Generative AI and Midjourney to make edits to storyboards and animatics while staying consistent to your storyboard artists style.Bring Cool Ranch Doritos to your party, seriously.Eric's Endorsements: SteadfastLA https://www.steadfastla.com/ is helping rebuild Los Angeles."After the End of Art", a book by Arthur Danto https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691163895/after-the-end-of-art

Director Andrew Kightlinger IG@Andrew.vhs and DP Idan Menin IG:@idanmenin talk about their film, from Sylvester Stallone's Balboa Productions, "Lost On a Mountain in Maine" https://www.lostonamountaininmainemovie.com/Matt and Oren go deep about the tough trade-offs they made between budget, VFX, and the need to look realistic. And the guys delve into a wider discussion about the dance between great cinematography and awesome storytelling. Can you shoot on an iPhone and use it alongside an Alexa 35? Would you do it In a commercial, but not in a film and why? And how do you build a relationship between you, as director and your DP that elevates everyone's reel?As always, Oren and Matt get behind the real story to working on a film produced by Sylvester Stallone. Don't miss these juicy details!!---Get a great deal on Magic Mind! https://magicmind.com/shootitjanMatt's Endorsement: Go to a nice movie theater! Oren's Endorsement: Every Frame A Picture's video on YouTube, "Where Do You Put the Camera?" https://youtu.be/wa1O3nqW5hQ?si=ttIU6t8vY0JGhIOeAndrew's Endorsement: "Paradise" on Hulu https://press.hulu.com/shows/paradise/Idan's Endorsement: The liquid emulsion process for creating photographs on a silver-based, liquid photographic emulsion adhered to unconventional surfaces like wood blocks or concrete.