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TV & Film
Liz Manashil & Alrik Bursell
Liz Manashil and Alrik Bursell discuss independent filmmaking, everything from writing, producing and directing to working as crew. But this is not just a podcast about "making it," it's also about struggling with rejection, self-doubt and everything else that comes with pursuing a career in film. Follow along as we forge our own way through the industry and talk to guests who are also making it happen.
Episodes 238-299 are available at our patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Ben Mullholland - Making The Lake Merritt Monster!
This week Alrik and co-host L. Jeffrey Moore welcome writer/director Benjamin Mullholland to the show! Ben is a resident at the San Francisco's Film Society Film House and the writer/director of the Lake Merritt Monster!
01:18:1008/07/2019
Rob Smat - Making The Last Whistle!
This week Alrik and co-host Liz Anderson sit down with writer/director Rob Smat to talk about his new film, The Last Whistle! Rob is a graduate of USC and he talks through the making of his first feature and how he made it for $100k!
01:23:0701/07/2019
Andrew Stephen Lee - Graduating from Columbia Film School and Making Manila is Full of Men Named Boy!
This week Alrik and co-host Isaac Pingree sit down with writer director Andrew Stephen Lee to talk about his experience as a graduate of the Columbia Film program and the making/release of his latest short film, Manila is Full of Men Named Boy!
01:18:0924/06/2019
Searit Huluf & Tiajha Nakahara - Making Gamers the Short Film with a Day Job!
This week Alrik and co-host Colin Levy sit down with writer director Searit Huluf and Producer Tiajha Nakahara to talk about the making of their upcoming short film, Gamers!
01:06:5219/06/2019
Michael Cawood - Feature Film Pre-Viz and Animated Shorts!
This week Alrik and co-host Colin Levy sit down with animator, pre-viz artist and filmmaker, Michael Cawood! Michael breaks down how pre-viz is done on big budget features and gives us a breakdown of his work on a famous scene from FF7!
01:30:4313/06/2019
Catching Up with Andrew Schrader!
This week Alrik and co-host Andrew Schrader catch up for the first time in over 6 months!
01:06:5704/06/2019
Ava Benjamin Shorr - From Lensing Shorts to Long Form Content
This week Alrik and co-host Winnie Wong talk to LA Cinematographer Ava Benjamin Shorr about making the move from shooting shorts to long form content.
01:42:3127/05/2019
Justin Warren - Setting the Value of Your Feature Film!
This week Alrik and co-host Liz Manashil welcome special guest Justin Warren to talk about making and releasing his first feature film, Then There Was Joe. Justin talks about how he set the value of his movie and turned down multiple distribution offers.
01:16:2222/05/2019
Jordan Harris - Story Editing for Cartoon Network Part 2!
This week Alrik and co-host Andrew Schrader welcome filmmaker/editor/writer Jordan Harris to the show for part 2 of their discussion.
01:19:3022/05/2019
Jordan Harris - Story Editing for Cartoon Network Part 1!
This week Alrik and co-host Andrew Schrader welcome filmmaker/editor/writer Jordan Harris to the show! Jordan is currently working as the story editor on a top secret Cartoon Network show and he gives us the low down on the writing process for animation!
57:0315/05/2019
Co-Host Liz Manashil on Why Indie Film Distribution is HARD!!!
This week Alrik is joined by new co-host/friend of the show, Liz Manashil to talk about her second feature, The Speed of Life, filmmaking as a new mother and most importantly about the struggles of indie film distribution!
01:08:5829/04/2019
Alex Kellerman and Alrik Bursell Solo Bolo!
This week Kellerman and Alrik do their second solo episode together, talking about all kinds of filmmaking related nonsense. This is not the traditional episode of MMIH, so get ready for a fun conversation!
01:17:1522/04/2019
Alex Ferrari - Talking the Indie Film Hustle!
This week Kellerman and Alrik welcome Alex Ferrari from Indie Film Hustle to the show! Alex is a filmmaker, editor, colorist and podcast guru, known for the podcasts Indie Film Hustle, Bulletproof Screenplay Podcast and two time feature filmmaker!
01:33:4615/04/2019
MMIH Co-Host/Directors Round Table!
This week Alrik welcomes filmmakers and co-hosts Liz Manashil, L. Jeffrey Moore, Isaac Pingree, Samiat Salami, Andrew Schrader and Colin Levy to this very special 200th episode of Making Movies is Hard!
01:27:3610/04/2019
DeShuna Spencer - Starting Your Own Streaming Platform!
This week Alrik and Jeff welcome filmmaker and CEO/Founder of Kweli TV, DeShuna Spencer to the show! DeShuna talks to us about her streaming platform Kweli TV and the struggles she faces in running her own independent streaming service!
01:13:0401/04/2019
Bringing in 2019 with Liz Anderson!
This week Alrik welcomes our next guest co-host Liz Anderson to the show! We talk about Liz's background, how she went from being an actor to a filmmaker and how she made her way from New York to LA and back to San Francisco!
01:33:2728/03/2019
Josh Gannon - Script Supervisor!
This week Alrik and co-host Alex Kellerman talk to Script Supervisor Josh Gannon who has worked on over a dozen feature films and countless shorts as the Script Supervisor.
01:26:1118/03/2019
Jesse Handsher - Being Napoleon!
This week Alrik and co-host Isaac Pingree talk with producer, director, editor and documentary filmmaker Jesse Handsher about making his documentary, Being Napoleon which is currently on Netflix!
01:14:1711/03/2019
New Co-Host - Isaac Pingree!
This week Alrik welcomes our seventh guest co-host Isaac Pingree to the show! Isaac has been making movies since he was a teenager, even directing his first feature film at the age of 20. Isaac talks to us about what he is doing now and working on his art
01:11:5004/03/2019
Mischa Stanton - Telling Stories in Sound!
L. Jeffrey Moore and Alrik welcome storyteller, audio wizard and podcaster extraordinaire, Mischa Stanton to the show! Mischa is the mind behind the award-winning serial audio drama ars PARADOXICA, a love letter to physics, fiction, and the future.
01:15:5125/02/2019
Jack and Justin - Thriving as a Directing Duo in LA!
This week Alrik and co-host Andrew Schrader welcome LA directing duo Jack and Justin to the show! Jack and Justin talk to us about how they got started as a director duo, how they got their first gig and how it lead to them directing Stan Against Evil!
01:08:3718/02/2019
Making the North Pole - Yvan Iturriaga & Darren Colston!
This week Samiat and Alrik welcome filmmakers Yvan Iturriaga and Darren Colston to the show! They were co-creators and the director and producer (respectively) on the Bay Area produced web series, The North Pole.
01:38:0812/02/2019
Bonus Episode - Introducing The Making Movies is HARD Patreon Page!
Surprise!!! Alrik here, I wanted to just drop you all a line and let you know about our brand new patreon page and to give you a little update on my work and how things are going with The Alternate!
11:4007/02/2019
Welcome New Co-Host Samiat Salami!
This week Alrik welcomes our fifth guest co-host Samiat Salami to the show! We talk about what it's like to transition from life in Nigeria to eventually coming to Oakland and finding herself as a filmmaker and making her web series, Uneasy!
01:24:5604/02/2019
Peter Jang - Stunt Fighting and Making it in LA!
This week Alrik and co-host Kellerman welcome Stunt Performer, Actor and Filmmaker Peter Jang to the show! Peter has performed stunts in 44 projects, including Bad Times at the El Royal and The Last Ships and acted in numerous TV/Shows and Movies!
01:28:3328/01/2019
Angie Powers & Elizabeth Stark - Lost in the Middle!
This week we have filmmakers Angie Powers and Elizabeth Stark on the show! They talk to us about how they got into filmmaking, making films as a couple and making their first feature film, Lost in the MIddle!
51:1621/01/2019
Welcome New Co-Host L. Jeffrey Moore Solo Episode!
This week Alrik welcomes our newest guest co-host L. Jeffrey Moore to the show! We talk about how Jeff got started in filmmaking, his time in LA and how he has been making it as an actor in SF and much more!
01:11:2014/01/2019
Andrew Chesworth - Life of an Ex Disney Animator
This week we welcome Animator and Filmmaker Andrew Chesworth to the show! Andrew worked at Disney as an animator on films like Wreck It Ralph, Frozen, Big Hero Six and Moana and has just released his latest short film, One Small Step!
01:41:4207/01/2019
Welcome 3rd Co-Host, Colin Levy!
This week we welcome our official third co-host to the show, Colin Levy! In this episode we talk about how Colin's first year in LA has gone, the status of his short film Skywatch and what his struggling with as he navigates the Hollywood landscape!
01:18:3631/12/2018
Bonus Episode - Aquaman Talk with L. Jeffrey Moore!
This week Alrik and future co-host L. Jeffrey Moore talk about Aquaman, give their mostly spoiler free review and discuss it's place in the landscape of super hero movies!
01:21:1429/12/2018
Making Movies is Hard Live in LA with Lewberger!
This week we have our first ever live show in LA with special guest Lewberger! Join Alex Kellerman and Alrik Bursell as they talk to Alex Lewis, Keith Habersberger and Hughie Stone Fish about the music comedy band and how they make their videos!
01:02:1124/12/2018
Welcome 2nd Co-Host, Alex Kellerman!
This week we have our second co-host, Alex Kellerman on the show! In this episode we get to know a little about Alex's backstory and get his tips/tricks on how to make it in Hollywood! That and much more in this weeks episode of Making Movies is Hard!
58:1619/12/2018
Writing into the Writers Room with Katie Johnson!
This week we have write Katie Johnson on the show to talk about starting a career in writing, working in a writers room and writing on season three of Shooter. If you are interested in a career in writing in Hollywood this is the episode for you!
56:3710/12/2018
Welcome Co-Host Andrew Schrader - The Writing Process!
This week Alrik welcomes his first new co-host Andrew Schrader to the show! We talk about Andrew's background in filmmaking, how he got to where he is now and his writing process.
01:06:5103/12/2018
Timothy's Final Episode (For Now)
Timothy retires as the full time co-host of Making Movies is Hard. We discuss what's next for the podcast and Timothy tells us what he has learned through from the last three and a half years.
01:26:3426/11/2018
My Struggle - Listener Call Ins!
Three listeners of the podcast dial in to talk about what they are struggling with and ask for advice.
01:30:4119/11/2018
Making Music Videos with the Band Beautiful Machines!
Conrad and Stefanie join us to talk about making music videos, from their very first video "Animammal" to the recent "We Have 2 Escape"
01:11:5212/11/2018
Tony Gapastione - Being a Brave Maker!
This week we have local actor, writer, producer, director and entrepreneur, Tony Gapastione on the show! Tony talks to us about how he got into filmmaking and his new non-profit Brave Maker which is designed to help local filmmakers tell their stories!
01:08:5905/11/2018
Steve Dildarian - Creating An HBO Animated Series!
While working in advertising Steve Dildarian made a short film that won the Aspen Comedy Fest and eventually turned into an HBO Animated Series called "The Life and Times of Tim."
01:26:4729/10/2018
Vinne Van Wyk - Shooting Stock Footage!
This week we have filmmaker and cinematographer Vinnie Van Wyk on the show, we were introduced to Vinnie through our sponsor Dissolve because we wanted to talk to someone who makes a living through shooting stock footage and Vinnie was their top pick.
01:08:5822/10/2018
LIVE PODCAST with Ben Wolan!
This episode was recorded in front of a live audience right before Ben Wolan screened his film "Rubicon Road" for the first time. We explore what it feels like to share your movie and talk about Ben's first experience directing a film.
56:5415/10/2018
Evan Cecil - Shooting a Good Death!
This week we have local Bay Area Director Evan Cecil on the show to talk about how he got started in film, his years of directing TV re-enactments and shooting the 21 kills in his new feature film Lasso that hits VOD on November 13th!
01:10:0608/10/2018
Ed Ng - Starting from the Bottom!
Our friend Ed Ng is on the podcast today and we're so excited to have him to tell us how in just six years he we went from no film experience to producing and shooting jobs for big names like Apple, HTC and Tostitos.
01:14:5201/10/2018
The Alternate, Timothy Writes and a Podcast Shakeup!
This week Timothy and Alrik chat amongst themselves about Alrik's film The Alternate, Timothy writing for another month and shaking up the podcast! What does it all mean? Listen to find out!
01:19:3624/09/2018
Paulina Lagudi - Directing Children!
Paulina Lagudi recently finished her first feature Mail Order Monster which stars several children. She shares tips on working with kids as well as a slew of information about how she got the film made and distributed.
01:07:2317/09/2018
Tony Vella - The Life of a Stunt Person!
Stunt Coordinator Tony Vella joins us this week to talk about his life in the film business, how he got started and how it all led him to his career in stunts!
01:29:2611/09/2018
Production Assistant - Melhik Hailu!
Melhik discovered a passion for filmmaking in high school and has since hustled his way into freelance work and internships while also studying at SF State. We talk about his dreams, his career path, and the exciting ways he's making it all happen.
01:13:1903/09/2018
What Kind of Directing Experience is Good Directing Experience?
As Alrik directs more he wonders what kind of directing experience is good for his growth and career. On the other hand, Timothy chooses to turn down directing jobs and focus on his growth in other ways. Plus we read a listener letter to help clarify some
01:04:2127/08/2018
Maria Mealla - Losing Funding and Making Your Feature!
This week we have a special co-host previous guest Kuang Lee to talk with local filmmaker Maria Maella about losing funding for her feature Bring Me an Avocado but pushing forward and making it happen anyways!
01:06:4220/08/2018
Margaret Caragan - Making Special Effects with Pandora FX!
Margaret Caragan is a local Bay Area SFX artist who has worked on all kinds of features, short films and commercials, making all kinds of amazing practical effects. Margaret talks about how she got started in special effects, how she makes her creations!
01:13:2315/08/2018