Podcasts about Austin Film Festival

“You have to be able to go for it, and you never know what can come from it.” — Wayne Friedman In this episode of Better Call Daddy, Reena Friedman Watts and her dad, Wayne, sit down with Priscilla Mensah a creative visionary who transformed her career from web development to soap making, content creation, and TV pitching. Priscilla opens up about her bold journey to develop and pitch her dream travel show about global soap-making traditions, motherhood, and cultural storytelling. She shares how she turned a personal passion into a compelling TV concept blending craftsmanship, culture, community impact, and adventure.

We caught up with director Chris Hartwell and actor Harry Shum Jr. at the Austin Film Festival to chat about their powerful movie Do No Harm.

Mike sits down with the sibling filmmaking duo Josh Holden and Nick Holden (a.k.a. the Holden Brothers) to unpack their sharp new dramedy Sell Out, which premiered at the Austin Film Festival. Shot in and around Austin and Louisiana, the film follows novelist Benny Dink as his career stalls, his love life unravels and a too-good-to-pass ghostwriting job forces him into a reckoning with art, ambition and identity.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth 

FORELOCK is a dark comedy set in the underbelly of Los Angeles, written and directed by Caleb Alexander Smith, who also stars in the film, alongside David Krumholtz.Caleb & David join Trey Elling, ahead of the movie's world premiere at the Austin FIlm Festival to discuss making this indie flick. Topics include:The film's beginnings (0:00)How David got involved (3:36)Challenges in making FORELOCK (6:16)Caleb's 'Superman' looks (9:26)A unique opportunity for David (13:47)Movies that influenced this script (18:12)The importance of having fun (21:25)Caleb's wife, Lindsay (23:00)Sports talk (24:54)An ode to FORELOCK (31:02)

Mike sits down with the sibling filmmaking duo Josh Holden and Nick Holden (a.k.a. the Holden Brothers) to unpack their sharp new dramedy Sell Out, which premiered at the Austin Film Festival. Shot in and around Austin and Louisiana, the film follows novelist Benny Dink as his career stalls, his love life unravels and a too-good-to-pass ghostwriting job forces him into a reckoning with art, ambition and identity.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth 

We catch up with Steve Binder, showrunner and executive producer for "NCIS," and David North, co-showrunner and executive producer for "NCIS: Origins at the Austin Film Festival to learn about where the universe is headed!

In this week's episode of The CineSnob Podcast, the gang is back together for reviews of "Bugonia," "Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere," "Shelby Oaks," and "The Perfect Neighbor." Plus, Cody provides part one of his recap of the 2025 Austin Film Festival.

Last week, Nick and Bella hit the festival circuit - from Los Angeles to Austin - and came back buzzing with discoveries. This week, they're shaking things up on the podcast with a special episode featuring six hand-picked, standout films from the festivals.Bella spotlights three bold, unforgettable, directorial debuts from AFI Fest, including The Plague by Charlie Polinger, Fucktoys by Annapurna Sriram, and The Chronology of Water by Kristen StewartNick shares his favorite films and moments from Austin Film Festival, including Forelock by Caleb Alexander Smith, Little Dinners by Peter Bussian, and a fantastic panel for one of his all-time favs, The Wedding Singer.This episode is all about celebrating the magic of film festivals - the creativity, the community, and the shared love of cinema that brings us all together. We're so excited to share these incredible movies with you all! Support your local film festivals, independent filmmakers, and keep making movies!!❗️SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE ❗️Support the showSign up for our Patreon for exclusive Bonus Content.Follow the podcast on Instagram @gimmethreepodcastYou can keep up with Bella on Instagram @portraitofacinephile or Letterboxd You can keep up with Nick: on Instagram @nicholasybarra, on Twitter (X) @nicholaspybarra, or on LetterboxdShout out to contributor and producer Sonja Mereu. A special thanks to Anselm Kennedy for creating Gimme Three's theme music. And another special thanks to Zoe Baumann for creating our exceptional cover art.

The guys discuss the best way to have professional manscaping, Kevin tells his stories from being at Austin Film Festival and he finally gets the airplane altercation drama he's been dying to witness for years.

In this episode, No Film School founder Ryan Koo sits down with contributor and fellow Austinite Jordan Aldridge to recap the highlights and insights from the 32nd annual Austin Film Festival. Known as "The Writers Festival," AFF has emerged as a critical space for screenwriters, writer-directors, and filmmakers to connect, learn, and showcase their work. Ryan and Jordan discuss how the festival nurtures emerging talent, supports the craft of screenwriting, and uniquely prioritizes writers. They also dig into the implications of Texas's new film incentive, SB 22, and what it means for the future of production in the Lone Star State. In this episode, No Film School's Ryan Koo and Jordan Aldridge discuss... Why the Austin Film Festival is considered the top screenwriting festival The unique setup of AFF with its focus on panels and Q&As over red carpets Highlights from panels with Michael Arndt, Celine Song, Christine Vachon, and Rian Johnson Screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker's brutally honest take on breaking in The inspiring breakout story of writer Austin Kolodny and Dead Man's Wire The economics of the film industry and why 90–97% of films don't make money True stories as a strong route into the industry for aspiring screenwriters Texas's new $1.5 billion film incentive and how it could change U.S. production hubs Concerns about creative censorship tied to discretionary state grants The continued power of writing on spec, especially in genre like horror and action Memorable Quotes: "The artist is not the beggar for the producer's attention.” "I'm willing to bet the next two years of my life that that's a great ending." "There are a lot of us knocking at the door... We may do it for free for years." "You could get a coursework over a weekend at the Austin Film Festival." Resources: Michael Arndt's Video Lectures Previous AFF Roundtable Episode (with GG Hawkins) Find No Film School everywhere: On the Web: No Film School Facebook: No Film School on Facebook Twitter: No Film School on Twitter YouTube: No Film School on YouTube Instagram: No Film School on Instagram  

 “Is a golf course just grass and holes—or the heartbeat of a city's culture?”That's the question at the center of this lively episode of The JB and Sandy Show, where we dive into Austin's indie film scene and the hilarious, heartfelt story behind The Long Shot. Join JB and Sandy as they recount Jamie's night at the Austin Film Festival for the premiere of this love letter to Austin. Directed by Austin Nichols and starring Ryan Hansen (with whispers of Glenn Powell's involvement), the film follows a scrappy crew fighting to save their beloved municipal golf course from big-money developers. It's a comedy packed with quirky characters—think medieval reenactments on the fairway and late-night raves on the greens—that will make you laugh and tug at your Austin pride. Along the way, Sandy shares a surreal airport encounter with someone who looked exactly like Eddie Murphy's son (and the hilarious inner debate about asking the ultimate question), plus the crew dishes on Austin icons, film industry secrets, and why preserving local culture matters more than ever. And if you're looking for Halloween thrills, stick around for Trisha's unforgettable adventure at Scream Hollow—VIP code words, haunted hayrides, and a chainsaw chase that will have you screaming with laughter.Memorable Quote:"It's not about the money—it's about the culture."Why You'll Love This Episode:Behind-the-scenes of The Long Shot and Austin's indie film vibeLaugh-out-loud stories from JB, Sandy, and TrishaInsider tips for Halloween fun at Scream HollowCall to Action:Love what you hear? Subscribe now, leave us a review, and share this episode with your friends. Let's keep the conversation—and Austin's culture—alive!

John and Craig return to Texas for their 11th show at the Austin Film Festival. They welcome writer Pamela Ribon (Nimona, My Year of Dicks) and showrunner Anthony Sparks (Queen Sugar, Bel-Air) to look at what makes character relationships compelling, and how to build a writing career later in life. We also answer lister questions on getting un-stuck in a script, how podcasting has made us better writers, the limits of exposition, using AI for sizzle reels, and where we get the cajones selling a screenwriting book after slagging-off screenwriting books for fourteen years. In our bonus segment for premium members, we invite two Scriptnotes super-fans up to the stage to compete for the ultimate prize: an early, signed copy of the Scriptnotes book. Links: Pamela Ribon and Anthony Sparks Austin Film Festival Preorder the Scriptnotes Book! Our Moneyball episode Enter the Relationship Matrix by Chris Csont Bring It On toothbrush scene STOMP Writer Emergency Pack Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Become a Scriptnotes Premium member, or gift a subscription (now with fewer emails!) Subscribe to Scriptnotes on YouTube Scriptnotes on Instagram John August on Bluesky and Instagram Outro by Matthew Chilelli (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

The Making of 'The Boy from St. Croix': An Interview with Scott DuncanIn this special episode of the Silver and Black Coffee Hour, we sit down with Scott Duncan, the director of the upcoming documentary 'The Boy from St. Croix.' The film explores the life of NBA legend Tim Duncan from the perspective of his brother, Scott. We dive into Scott's motivations for creating the documentary, Tim's unique personality, and how their island upbringing influenced their lives. Scott also shares insights about Tim's transition to life after basketball, their family's competitive spirit, and the importance of community. The documentary will premiere at the Austin Film Festival on October 28th, offering a timeless look into Tim Duncan's extraordinary journey.00:00 Welcome to the Silver and Black Coffee Hour00:09 Introducing Scott Duncan and the Documentary01:13 The Inspiration Behind the Documentary04:23 Scott's Role and Relationship with Tim06:49 Family and Island Culture10:08 Tim Duncan's Playing Career and Media Perception13:32 Tim's Competitive Nature and Personal Life15:46 The Role of Water and Tim's Post-Basketball Life19:41 Final Thoughts and Future Plans24:25 Closing Remarks and Distribution Plans

Champ Bailey is a Georgia Bulldog, 15-year NFL vet, and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.More recently, he's the executive producer of Signing Tony Raymond, a movie about an up-and-coming college football coach who's attempting to sign the top high school recruit in the country. He chats with Trey Elling, ahead of its world premiere at the Austin Film Festival. Topics include:A summary of the film (0:00)The BUSINESS of sports (3:22)Champ's role as EP (11:59)The stellar cast (13:44)Sharing REAL recruiting ridiculousness (17:57)Establishing a culture at Georgia (20:55)Darrell Green FINALLY getting his due (22:43)His kids playing football (24:54)Final thoughts on Tony Raymond (31:16)

In this episode, we sit down with Austin-based filmmaker Kelly Lipscomb, whose new documentary Bite to Bite makes its World Premiere at the Austin Film Festival. The film follows a single giant Bluefin tuna from the icy Atlantic waters of Nova Scotia to Tokyo's legendary Tsukiji Market — tracing a story of tradition, survival, and the global seafood economy. We explore how this cinematic odyssey reveals the human cost of overfishing, the future of sustainability, and why the fate of one fish can reflect the state of our oceans.

When writer-director Bryan Poyser decided to make a feature over winter break—with no finished script and a team of students—he had no idea it would premiere at Tribeca Film Festival.In this episode of In the Room, host John Williams sits down with Poyser and actors Heather Kafka (The Leftovers, Friday Night Lights) and Justin Arnold (Spike Jonze's Scenes from the Suburbs) to unpack how Leads came to life through collaboration, improvisation, and creative trust.They discuss:Building a feature film without a scriptBalancing creative ambition with real life and financial limitsThe power of collaboration between directors, actors, and studentsFinding purpose and joy in the process—not just the resultAn inspiring, candid conversation about risk, artistic integrity, and rediscovering love for the craft.

It's a particularly chaotic hotdog Friday. Today, the guys discussed the Austin Film Festival with special guest Barbara Morgan, fought with a super fan, reminisced on the '70s, and said their goodbyes to Sawyer.Support the show: https://www.klbjfm.com/mattandbobfm/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so With the Austin Film Festival coming up next week, we're revisiting one of our favorite episodes to help everyone attending get ready to share their stories! --- The Austin Film Festival is known for many things — but few are as legendary as its annual 90-Second Pitch Competition, where writers have just 90 seconds to share their stories. In Hollywood, we call that “the elevator pitch” — and it's more essential than ever. To unpack what makes a pitch truly land, we're joined by an incredible lineup: TSL veteran and producer Sheila Hanahan Taylor, Austin Film Festival's Screenplay Director Alyssa Alvarado, and five brave writers who step up to pitch their hearts out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John and Craig invite Aline Brosh McKenna back to celebrate the third anniversary of Scriptnotes. It's a jam-packed, glass-and-a-half of wine, listener-favorite episode. They look at ways to breathe new life into scenes and characters that aren't working, box office journalism and how Hollywood is always dying, scene geography, and the role of emotional intelligence (or EQ) in a writer's career. In our bonus segment for premium members, we have original outtakes from the episode where we look at what changed in the world in our first three years on air, make predictions for what's to come, re-invent Spanx, and of course talk about D&D. Links: Going to the 2025 Austin Film Festival? Submit to our LIVE Three Page Challenge here! The original episode 161 and its transcript Aline Brosh McKenna on Instagram and IMDb Why do people throw tomatoes? from How Stuff Works The Knowledge Global Entry From 2014: Movies Have Worst Summer Since 1997 by Brooks Barnes Mimeographs on Wikipedia and eBay Maguire Watch on Everything is Terrible! Filthy Scriptnotes episodes The Angeles Crest Fiasco and The Dirty Show The Honourable Woman This Movie Will Require Dinosaurs by C. W. Neill N3TWORK Preorder the Scriptnotes Book! Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Become a Scriptnotes Premium member, or gift a subscription Subscribe to Scriptnotes on YouTube Scriptnotes on Instagram John August on Bluesky and Instagram Outro by Robert Hutchison (send us yours!) This episode was originally produced by Stuart Friedel. Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

Corey is a versatile composer with a blend of unique artistry mixed with a deep understanding of cinematic music. Over a decade now in the business, he got his start writing for motion picture advertising, landing his music in spots for Star Wars, Concussion, The Incredibles 2, and countless other projects. His breakthrough as a film composer came in 2023, with his original music in HBO's Last Stop Larrimah, produced by Duplass Brothers Productions which went #1 on Netflix in Australia. Later that year he scored the Taika Waititi directed short film “The Lost Voice” in collaboration with Apple. More recently, he served as the composer for Green & Gold, an indie film that won the Audience Choice Award at both Austin Film Festival and Heartland International Film Festival. He frequently collaborates with many brands including Banana Republic, with whom he recently wrote the music behind the Banana Republic x White Lotus Collection in partnership with HBO. He is represented by Warner Chappell. Connect with Corey:➡️ Insta: @coreymartincomposer➡️ TikTok: @coreymartincomposerwww.coreymartinmusic.comAbout The Lot1 Podcast ✨The Lot1 Podcast is designed for anyone who is interested in or working in filmmaking. Whether you're just starting out or a seasoned veteran, we hope you gain the knowledge you need to improve your craft, achieve your filmmaking goals, or simply get an understanding and appreciation for the roles and duties of your peers and colleagues.

This week we welcome writer/director J Davis and Star Andre Hyland on the show to talk about the making of I Hate Myself and I Want to Die which premiered at the Austin Film Festival last fall, just about a year ago! Our producer extraordinaire Eric Toms conducted this interview from the Omni Hotel in Austin so it's sure to be a good one. After that we play another round of THE GAME, enjoy! Don't forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

October Radiofest (01/31) : went to Beyond Fest with Jackie Quinones to see LA FREQUENCIA KIRLIAN, and we recap the night, talk science fiction, and Jackie's World Premiere her film, MILES AWAY at Austin Film Festival: https://2025austinfilmfestival.sched.com/event/29bDw/miles-away 

John and Craig wonder, how has TV changed in the last ten years? They compare what's better and worse, the tradeoffs between quality and quantity, how curation is changing, the pros and cons of shorter seasons, and what this all means for writers and viewers. We also look forward to our time at the Austin Film Festival, offer paths for writers to keep their health insurance, follow up on Three Page Challenge selections that actually got made, and answer listener questions on adapting a screenplay into an audio drama and payment for work after a script is turned in. In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig looks at what makes a damn fine cup of coffee. Links: Going to the Austin Film Festival this year? Submit for our LIVE Three Page Challenge here! Entertainment Community Fund Services & Programs Signed editions of the Scriptnotes Book Destination: Earth audio drama Weekend Read Episode 163: Ghost WGA Showrunner Training Program Phantom Ink The House of Tesla Preorder the Scriptnotes Book! Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Become a Scriptnotes Premium member, or gift a subscription Subscribe to Scriptnotes on YouTube Scriptnotes on Instagram John August on Bluesky and Instagram Outro by Nick Moore (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

This episode we welcome actress and producer Rebekah Kennedy to talk Traumatika Rebekah Kennedy began acting on the stage. Rebekah spent all of her time doing theatre and it wasn't until later that she truly discovered the screen. Soon came an amazing opportunity when Rebekah booked the lead role Hanna in the feature, "House Hunting" with Marc Singer and Art LaFleur and then went on to play Caroline Boutine in the feature, "Creature," starring Mehcad Brooks and Serinda Swan. Then came another wonderful opportunity when she booked a supporting role in the feature, "Season of the Witch" with Nicolas Cage. Rebekah made her television debut on the TNT show, "Memphis Beat." She also had a guest star role in the long running TV show "Criminal Minds" on CBS, the lead guest star Esther Labott in The Book of Esther on "Law & Order SVU" on NBC, and most recently as the crazy drug addict Melly Wyatt in "Station 19" on ABC. Rebekah first hit the big screen when she played the young Peasant Turk Girl in "Season of the Witch" with Nicolas Cage and Ron Perlman, which landed in theaters January 2011, "Creature" which opened in September 2011, and then as one of the leads in the horror film "Bastard" with After Dark Films and Fox Home Entertainment which opened in October 2015. "A Dark Foe" with Graham Greene and Selma Blair opened in select theaters July 2021 and most recently "The Unseen" which played in select theaters June 30th 2023 with RJ Mitte. Rebekah can also be seen in Netflix's "To The Bone" starring Lily Collins and Keanu Reeves. "Let Me Make You A Martyr" with Mark Boone Junior, "Street Level" with Sons of Anarchy's David Labrava and Mark Boone Junior, and "Limbo" with James Purefoy. She most recently can be seen starring as the mute girl Jojo in the Amazon prime movie "Los Angeles" and as the starring witch Masha in "Two Witches" that is taking the horror world by storm. She also most recently wrapped "The Veil" with Sean O'Bryan that premiered at the Austin Film Festival and "Crust" with Sean Whalen, Daniel Roebuck, and Alan Ruck that will be releasing this Fall. Rebekah is also heavily involved with reaching out to the homeless and has done work with the Covenant House in Los Angeles. If you want to support the show, head over to http://tee.pub/lic/HIbVFqhaUyA and grab a shirt! We are proud to be part of The Dorkening Podcast Network https://www.thedorkeningpodcastnetwork.com/ and now DEAD OF WINTER ENTERTAINMENT https://www.deadofwinterentertainment.com Find out more at https://wicked-horror-show.pinecast.co Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/wicked-horror-show/5454b5db-5e85-4e9c-9c5d-9709a75afb2f This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman talk about all the different types of careers for a Screenwriter and which may be right for you, depending on your personality.    TWIW: How to navigate the Austin Film Festival successfully, even if you're shy / Tasha's newest "big page" / Josh finds writing in the dark is a new hack / the Anaconda trailer is whack / Tasha & Josh's spec is moving on to the next phase.   Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

Kim Avery is an actress known for her authenticity and range, with credits spanning film and television. She appeared in Young King (2024), a festival-recognized film selected at RiverRun, ABFF, PAFF, Austin Film Festival, and MVAAFF. Kim won the 2025 ACE Award for Best Leading Female in Marriage Rehab (Prime Video, Tubi, Roku). Kim also holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology.#kimavery #actress #voiceoverartist #chrispomay #livewithcdptalkshow #barrycullenchevrolet https://solo.to/kimaveryhttps://www.instagram.com/kimavery_ac...https://m.imdb.com/name/nm9160499  / kimberly.avery.77  https://beacons.ai/chrisdpomayhttps://www.cameo.com/chrispomayhttps://www.paypal.com/paypalme/chris... (If you wish to support my media content) https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast...https://www.barrycullen.com/ the official sponsorship of Live With CDP Sports & Entertainment Talk Show

Devin Jane Febbroriello is a North American screenwriter/director + producer that specializes in the creation of thought-provoking stories centered on lovable dysfunctional families, surreal multi-genre plots, women, and dark humor. Evocative characters blaze bold paths through thematically rich circumstances to cultivate her emotive works. Devin's practice is informed by a fierce love of cinematic storytelling mixed with her deep-seated interest in films unique capacity to poetically investigate the human condition and connect us in both the beauty and the challenges of life.  ​Devin was named one of the Top 25 screenwriters to watch in 2025 by the International Screenwriters Association and invited onto their 2025 Development Slate. She has written/directed + produced award-winning music videos and short films that have screened at SXSW, Dances With Films, Pitchfork, Cinequest, Filmfort, BUFF Malmo, Nashville Film Festival, Venice VR Expanded, Portland Film Festival, Bend Film Festival, Stereogum, Rolling Stone, and more. Her pilot script for the episodic series "Blood is Thicker" was a finalist in the Screencraft TV Pilot Script Competition, and her feature script "Kathleen's Sound Bath" was an Austin Film Festival 2024 Second Rounder, a Script Lab Semi-Finalist, and is ranked in the top 5% of scripts on Coverfly in the drama category.  She received her Bachelor of Art in film from Emerson College, attended specialized cinema studies at FAMU (Czech Republic), and holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Screenwriting through the David Lynch School of Cinematic Arts at Maharishi University.  Devin is currently a co-owner and Head of Production at Desert Island Studios where she leads commercial client productions.

This week we welcome writer/director Christopher Yates and producer Sabrina Zahir on the show to talk about the making of American Spirit which premiered at the Austin Film Festival last fall. Our producer extraordinaire Eric Toms conducted this interview from the Omni Hotel in Austin so it's sure to be a good one. After that we play another round of THE GAME, enjoy! Don't forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952

This week, we're spotlighting two incredible TV writers whose journeys were meaningfully shaped by the Austin Film Festival. Sylvia Batey Alcalá (A MAN ON THE INSIDE, PRIMO) and Mac Smullen (SOUVENIR, ALASKA) share how AFF helped get their names out there —building momentum, sparking connections, and opening doors that had long felt closed. But a festival isn't the finish line — it's the starting gate. Sylvia and Mac walk us through the real (and rewarding) work it takes after recognition: rewriting, building reps, pitching, and staying ready for the moment when things start to move. It's a candid, thoughtful, and energizing conversation about what breaking in looks like today — and how festivals like AFF can help writers get in the game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Derek and Max from the LFS Board as they sit down with writer/director Tyler Savage and producer Javier Gonzalez as they discuss production of their new indie feature "Oddities" filmed in Louisville in May 2025!Tyler Savage: A graduate of NYU Tisch, Tyler worked as a Story Editor at Warner Bros before going on to work for Terrence Malick on four back-to-back features. Savage's first feature (Inheritance, 2017) was lauded by genre critics after premiering at Brooklyn Horror Film Festival. His second feature (Stalker, 2020) premiered at Fright Fest, won the Dark Matters Award at the Austin Film Festival, and was soon acquired by Vertical Entertainment. Though he has served as a producer on large indie productions, his first two features as writer/director were made on micro budgets and he takes pride in being a scrappy filmmaker who knows how to cleverly maximize his resources.Javier Gonzalez: Javier is an indie filmmaker who has produced numerous film and projects including: “Halley” (Sundance 2013), “The Transfiguration” (Cannes 2016), “In the Radiant City” (Toronto 2016), “Mildred and the Dying Parlor” (Tribeca 2015), “Honeymoon” (NY Film Festival 2016), “Swallow” (Tribeca 2019), “Tesla” (Sundance 2021), “Land of Dreams” (Venice 2022), “2nd Chance” (Sundance 2022), “Funny Pages” (Cannes 2022), “Girls State” (Sundance 2024) and “In The Summers” (Sundance Grand Jury Prize Winner 2024).Support the show

In this episode, Ronika Merl shares her personal life journey, overcoming sex trafficking to becoming an award-winning screenwriter, director, and literary author. What did she have to do to become who she is today? Below are some take-away-quotes from the episode:" Do I have peace? Where can I find it?"" Do I have purpose? Where can I find it?""Do I have power? Where can I find it?""Do I have persistence? Where can I find it?""Be careful with what you want, because you will get it.""Take inaction when things speed up.""Every action and inaction has an outcome.""It is our life lesson to create our gentleness.""Don't chase, let things come to you.""What do you need to change to get to that place?""I didn't make the decision, the decision made me."BIOBorn into an indigenous nomadic tribe in a remote mountain village in India, Ronika's early life was deeply rooted in the music, traditions, and storytelling of the Gaddi people. Her journey took a dramatic turn when she moved to Austria, where she faced numerous personal challenges and periods of displacement, including human trafficking and sexwork. These formative experiences profoundly influenced her creative voice and inspired her to explore powerful themes of trauma, identity, and resilience in her writing. Eventually settling in Ireland, Ronika drew from her multicultural experiences to shape a unique perspective that defines much of her work today.Her screenwriting career gained international attention when she placed highly in both the prestigious Academy Nicholl Fellowship and the Austin Film Festival in 2019. These accolades opened doors within the film industry and established her as a rising talent in screenwriting circles. Ronika has written over 22 feature-length scripts, with standout projects including Baabul, a deeply personal and culturally rich narrative; The House with the Blue Windows, which blends emotional depth with visual storytelling; and Blackbird, a powerful drama that has already been optioned for production. Her directorial debut, The Closing, is currently in preproduction and is being developed with support from Oscar-winning producer Pearce Cullen.ronikamerl.comwww.instagram.com/ronika.merlBluesky: ronikamerl#alittlelessfearpodcast #author #writer #producer #director #literaryauthor #poet #trafficking #survivor #resilience #stories #motivation #Ireland #treehouse #radicalkindness #peace #purpose #power #persistence #fyp #lifelessonsThis is Dr. Lino Martinez the host for A Little Less Fear Podcast. For more information, please use the information below. Thanks so much for your support!Author | A Little Less FearA Little LESS FEAR Podcast (@alittlelessfearpodcast) • Instagram photos and videosLino Marinez (@alittlelessfear) TikTok | Watch Lino Marinez's Newest TikTok Videos(4) A Little Less Fear Podcast - YouTube

Edward G. Excaliber is a Los Angeles-based, Miami-born Puerto Rican writer, a sci-fi/fantasy videogaming nerd who blends his darkly comedic, self-deprecating voice with emotionally sincere characters, focusing on grounded, personal stories in elevated genre worlds. The youngest of three, his passion for writing began at an early age, writing comic books, poems and lyrics, shifting to narrative storytelling in college, where he wrote and directed numerous stage plays. He transitioned to writing for film and television while attending the AFI Conservatory, earning an MFA in Screenwriting. Edward is an alum of the NBC Writers on the Verge and National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) writing programs. In 2024, Edward won the Hollywood Fringe Festival Theatre Theater Playwright Award for a one-act farce he penned. He's written episodes of Parcast's lost treasure podcast series, Gone. He's worked as a story analyst for Sony Pictures, Amblin, Austin Film Festival and Coverfly. Edward has twice been selected for the Read Latinx Initiative. Currently, Edward's learning to play guitar, practicing amateur archery and developing new projects. socials: (IG) @edwardexcaliber / @638play

In this episode of Filmmaker Mixer, we talk with award-winning journalist, writer, and director Olive Talley about her powerful new documentary The Stones Are Speaking. The film tells the incredible true story of archaeologist Mike Collins and his fight to save the Gault site—an unassuming patch of land in Central Texas that turned out to be one of the most important archaeological discoveries in the Americas. Talley shares how she crafted a film that is as much about the preservation of history as it is about the perseverance of one man's vision. We discuss the film's world premiere at the Austin Film Festival, its recent nationwide release, and how The Stones Are Speaking reminds us that individual courage can uncover truths that reshape history.

Stephanie Bast was abandoned in Korea, adopted by Italians and raised in a town so small and white, someone asked: “How are you gonna understand her when she starts speaking?” Fiercely loved and protected, she was taught to fear “the other” while knowing “the other” was herself. She started to write comedy to heal a wound. Now she writes to heal others, creating characters who think they're not enough, desperate to prove they're worthy of being saved. Stephanie lives in Los Angeles and is currently ISA's Story Farm fellow, Roadmap's Diversity Fellow, studied at UCLA extension and placed as a Finalist for Austin Film Festival, Final Draft's Big Break, CineStory, PAGE and The Writers Lab winner. A Broadway and TV/Film actress in the time when presenting as Asian was a detriment, she has turned the pain of her race into a super power. Stephanie writes for everyone who's adopted. She writes for everyone who hates looking in the mirror. She writes for her children, so they may always love their eyes. In a pinch, Stephanie can perform a reverse vasectomy. See more about Stephanie here: https://www.networkisa.org/profile/stephanie-bast

Catalyst is a Creative Industries podcast, from Chapman University. Each episode features Chapman students who have completed a Podcasting course through the Center for Creative and Cultural Industries at the university. Students who had no podcasting experience or technical ability in the genre before taking the course were able to contribute all the segments to Catalyst this season with the goal being that they will take this ‘hands-on' experience and carry it over to the launching of their very own series. Each episode of Season 13 will feature one to two different interviews conducted by CCI students, exploring different aspects of the Creative and Cultural Industries. Senior Sydney Cook Rogoff begins our episode with an in depth discussion of the Creative and Cultural Industries with Kellen Sweny, a Tech Initiatives Program Manager for the Walt Disney Company, specifically Walt Disney World. They discuss in detail the study of Creative and Cultural Industries before diving into the different aspects of the Walt Disney Company and focusing specifically on the responsibility the company has to continue to produce outstanding content and how Sweny contributes to this goal. They touch on how Sweny came to work for the company and what drew her to it in the first place, before they conclude with Sweny's “words of wisdom” for anyone trying to get a job in the corporate world of Disney, and how she herself worked to get her job. They touch on the Disney College Program (a program setup by the Walt Disney Company for aspiring Disney employees) and how this program helped her attain her current role at Disney. Our second segment in today's episode features an interview with Travis Garcia, the Co-Director of Features Programming at the Newport Beach Film Festival, who speaks with Marisa Lamas. Listen in as Marisa and Travis delve into the film festival industry and find out what it takes to take on the role of a director of features programming. They discuss Travis' previous work experience and what prepared him for his current job, from interning with the Austin Film Festival to student teaching at Cal State Fullerton in the Film, Cinema, and Media Studies sector. They also explore some of the position's highlights and challenges which prompts a discussion what kind of skills are needed to truly succeed in a position like Travis' and how to develop those skills. As they wrap up the interview, Travis has a chance to discuss some of the influential figures who were responsible for steering him in the right direction, and the advice that they bestowed on him that will always hold a prevalent place in his mind.

In this episode from 2012, John and Craig sit down with producer and former studio executive Lindsay Doran (Sense and Sensibility, Stranger than Fiction) at the Austin Film Festival to explore the producer's relationship with the screenplay. The look at how the role of producer has changed, the ideal development process, how she developed Sense and Sensibility with Emma Thompson, and staying true to your values in a fickle business. In our bonus segment for premium members, Drew joins John back in 2025 to consider the value of a good alumni program, and how an alma mater that under-delivers can be the pits. Links: Lindsay Doran on IMDb The original episode transcript Perfectly Happy, Even Without Happy Endings by Carrie Rickey for the New York Times (including a great photo of Lindsay's hair) Lindsay's TEDx presentation: Saving the World vs Kissing the Girl Scriptnotes, Episode 17: What do producers do? Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Instagram John August on Bluesky, Threads, and Instagram Outro by Matthew Chilelli (send us yours!) This episode was originally produced by Stuart Friedel. Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

This week we welcome writer director Joseph T. Walker on the show to talk about making his first feature La Gloria which played at the Austin Film Festival earlier this year! Eric conducted this interview from the Omni Hotel in Austin. After that we play another round of THE GAME and talk about what we are both up to, enjoy! Don't forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952

This week we welcome filmmaker and producer Luis Caffesse on the show to talk about directing his mockumentary feature, Subtopia: The Story of Hueco Canyon which played at the Austin Film Festival earlier this year! I had the pleasure of conducting this interview from the Omni Hotel in Austin so it's sure to be a good one. After that we play another round of THE GAME and Eric and Liz talk about what they are both up to, enjoy! Don't forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952

SUSIE MENDOZASusie is a screenwriter, producer, founder, and mom with a puppet brain. She is a graduate of The Second City and was a finalist for the CBS Writing Fellowship in 2020. Her digital series, DICK BUNNY, produced alongside EP/director Katie Locke O' Brienn and EP/Star Kim Griffin, premiered at The Austin Film Festival, going on to win at SeriesFest and HollyShorts in 2024. (Best Digital Series)Susie's essays are published on McSweeneys, Scary Mommy, Mom.com, and The Pregnant Chicken. An adaptation of her McSweeney's essay, "The Biggest Challenge of Parenting is becoming a Human Meat Suit", is being developed for adult animation. Her recent article, "Simple, Not Contradictory Rules to Motherhood," echoes the impossible societal expectations seen in DICK BUNNY. Susie's picture book NATTY AND MO, an odd-couple tale with a mental health twist, marks her debut as a children's book author/illustrator. She also created all of the illustrations seen in the series, DICK BUNNY.Susie is the founder of PRETTY PINK PICTURES is a female-focused independent film/tv production company. The company intends to take female writers and produce their work from script-to-screen. In today's uncertain landscape, they intend to cultivate hope, community, and opportunity by producing an entire season of indie TV. The indie film model, but for television.For more info about PRETTY PINK PICTURES: www.prettypinkpictures.com, @susiermendozaTo watch DICK BUNNY: www.dickbunny.comTo see a read-aloud video of "Natty and Mo", voiced by actress Rachel Bloom where she gets pee'd on by a live hedgehog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpqN-8ZDM3U&t=16s

SPECIAL GUEST! Dr. Laurie Santos, Yale professor and host of The Happiness Lab, gives us her sought-after advice for finding more joy in our lives. Parents will love her fresh take and practical insights for “finding the good” even in the most challenging parenting moments. Then in our Parenting Story of the Day, you will hear from a mom of two who was searching for happiness – until she realized it was right in front of her.  Special thanks to Walmart for sponsoring this episode! www.walmart.com  Dr. Laurie Santos / FB / IG / X / YT Dr. Santos is the Chandrika and Ranjan Tandon Professor of Psychology and Head of Silliman College at Yale University. Her course, Psychology and the Good Life, became Yale's most popular course in its over 300 year history, and the online version – The Science of Well-Being on Coursera.org – has attracted more than 4 million learners. A winner of numerous awards both for her science and teaching, Dr. Santos was recently voted as one of Popular Science Magazine's “Brilliant 10” young minds and Time Magazine named her a “Leading Campus Celebrity.” Her podcast, The Happiness Lab, is a top-3 Apple podcast with over 100 million downloads since its launch. Heather Osterman-Davis / FB / IG / X / LI   A mother of two and writer, Heather's work has appeared in various publications including, The New York Times, Washington Post, Time Magazine, Slate, Parents, Literary Mama, Brain Child, Filter Free Parents, and more. She is the author of an award winning short film titled Tell-By Date and winner of Austin Film Festival's Best Comedy TV Pilot for 2024.   StrollerCoaster: A Parenting Podcast is created by Munchkin Inc., the most loved baby lifestyle brand in the world.  You can find all your favorite Munchkin products at https://www.munchkin.com. Use the code STROLLERCOASTER15 for 15% off regular-price items! (expires 4/13/25)  Follow Munchkin on Instagram / Facebook / Pinterest / TikTok Trees for the Future https://trees.org/

SPECIAL GUEST! Dr. Laurie Santos, Yale professor and host of The Happiness Lab, gives us her sought-after advice for finding more joy in our lives. Parents will love her fresh take and practical insights for “finding the good” even in the most challenging parenting moments. Then in our Parenting Story of the Day, you will hear from a mom of two who was searching for happiness – until she realized it was right in front of her.  Special thanks to Walmart for sponsoring this episode! www.walmart.com  Dr. Laurie Santos / FB / IG / X / YT Dr. Santos is the Chandrika and Ranjan Tandon Professor of Psychology and Head of Silliman College at Yale University. Her course, Psychology and the Good Life, became Yale's most popular course in its over 300 year history, and the online version – The Science of Well-Being on Coursera.org – has attracted more than 4 million learners. A winner of numerous awards both for her science and teaching, Dr. Santos was recently voted as one of Popular Science Magazine's “Brilliant 10” young minds and Time Magazine named her a “Leading Campus Celebrity.” Her podcast, The Happiness Lab, is a top-3 Apple podcast with over 100 million downloads since its launch. Heather Osterman-Davis / FB / IG / X / LI   A mother of two and writer, Heather's work has appeared in various publications including, The New York Times, Washington Post, Time Magazine, Slate, Parents, Literary Mama, Brain Child, Filter Free Parents, and more. She is the author of an award winning short film titled Tell-By Date and winner of Austin Film Festival's Best Comedy TV Pilot for 2024.   StrollerCoaster: A Parenting Podcast is created by Munchkin Inc., the most loved baby lifestyle brand in the world.  You can find all your favorite Munchkin products at https://www.munchkin.com. Use the code STROLLERCOASTER15 for 15% off regular-price items! (expires 4/13/25) Follow Munchkin on Instagram / Facebook / Pinterest / TikTok Trees for the Future 

This week we welcome the team from The Ego Death of Queen Cecilia, including Writer/director Chris Beier, writer/co-producer Daniel Wolfman and producers (and old friends of the show) Travis White and Madison Phillips to talk about the making of the film which premiered at the Austin Film Festival. Our producer extraordinaire Eric Toms conducted this interview from the Omni Hotel in Austin so it's sure to be a good one. After that we play another round of THE GAME and talk about the current statuses of our projects, enjoy! Don't forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952

This week we welcome accomplished TV director Antonio Negret, his brother writer Daniel Negret and his wife, the producer Luiza Ricupero to talk about their feature Shaman which played at the Austin Film Festival earlier this year! Our producer extraordinaire Eric Toms conducted this interview from the Omni Hotel in Austin so it's sure to be a good one. After that we play another round of THE GAME, enjoy! Don't forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952

The Chief Executive Officer of the Austin Film Festival and a co-founder since it's  inception in 1993, Barbara has shepherded the festival from a single weekend of films and panels into a week-long celebration of storytelling through film, television, and other emerging forms of narrative media. Recognized as the prominent festival that champions screenwriters and media creators, the festival also boasts over a dozen internationally acclaimed film and screenplay competitions, diverse youth education programs, and a sprawling calendar of year-round events. Leveraging the vast amount of footage recorded at these events since its creation, Morgan created the festivals On Story Project in 2009, and serves as the project's Executive Producer. On Story includes a PBS television show, radio show (distributed by PRI and NPR affiliated stations), podcast series, a three-part book series (published in partnership with UT press), and extensive public archive.  Barbara has received 2 Lone Star Emmy's for On Story episodes, Breaking Bad: A Conversation with Vince Gilligan and for the Season 8 episode Script to Screen: Arrival in 2018. Morgan is an independent film producer, whose films have included Natural Selection, Antone's: Home of the Blues, Portrait of Wally, and Spring Eddy. She serves on a number of boards, including Dell Children's Blood and Cancer Center, and The Wittliff Collections at Texas State University. Morgan lives in Austin, Texas with her daughter, Hannah, and two dogs.

This week we welcome writer and director Susie Yankou on the show to talk about their latest feature Sisters which played at the Austin Film Festival earlier this year! Our producer extraordinaire Eric Toms conducted this interview from the Omni Hotel in Austin so it's sure to be a good one. After that we play another round of THE GAME, enjoy! Don't forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952

Live from the Austin Film Festival, John joins panelists Jordan Mechner (Prince of Persia) and Erica Harrell & Desirée Proctor (The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners) for an in-depth discussion on working across movies, tv, comics, plays, videogames and VR. Moderated by Evan Narcisse (Rise of the Black Panther), they discuss what led them to new mediums, the storytelling strengths each medium offers, and building a career that moves between them. In our bonus segment for premium members, the panelists answer some video game specific questions, including how to stand out as a writer to the major game developers. Scriptnotes audio provided courtesy of ©Austin Film Festival Links: Austin Film Festival's On Story Writing Across Mediums panel at the Austin Film Festival Evan Narcisse on Bluesky Jordan Mechner Erica Harell Desirée Proctor Nuclear Power by Desirée Proctor & Erica Harrell The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners on Steam, Meta store and Playstation Prince of Persia games Spy magazine Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram John August on BlueSky, Threads, Instagram, and Mastodon Outro by Matthew Chilelli (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

This week we welcome writer and director Angela Gulner and Producer Mark Meir on the show to talk about their latest feature The Beldham which played at the Austin Film Festival earlier this year! Our producer extraordinaire Eric Toms conducted this interview from the Omni Hotel in Austin so it's sure to be a good one. After that we play another round of THE GAME, enjoy! Don't forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indie-filmmaking/id1006416952

Join TSL Workshops NOW with our special 2024 coupon code HOLIDAY24: https://tslworkshops.circle.so Thanks to AFF for welcoming us back this year for another Story Workshop, and a special thanks to Brittney, Jessica, and Adam for sharing their projects. If you'd like to reach Adam to discuss his cult-inspired TV show, you can reach him here: https://www.adambranson.com/contact

John and Craig make their triumphant return to the Austin Film Festival for a wild night full of Emmy winning writers. They welcome Shōgun co-creators Rachel Kondo & Justin Marks to look at their process for structuring a series-long adaptation, keeping translations eloquent and accurate, and writing together as a married couple. We then welcome Susan Soon He Stanton (Succession, Dead Ringers) and Megan Amram (The Good Place, Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin) to discuss staffing on shows and crafting jokes. We also invite two audience members to play a new game: IMDB Sweeney Todd. In our bonus segment for premium members, the panel answers audience questions on adaptations, a crossover with Succession and The Good Place, entering Hollywood from outside the U.S., and navigating Hollywood's current contraction. Links: Austin Film Festival Scriptnotes LIVE! December 6th at Dynasty Typewriter Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks Megan Amram Susan Soon He Stanton Decoder Ring – “The Wrongest Bird in Movie History” Vote Out Ted Cruz Brick App r/TVTooHigh Bliss Lau A Dream of Islands by Gavan Daws Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram John August on Threads, Instagram, Twitter and Mastodon Outro by Matthew Chilelli (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt, with special help this week from Chris Csont and Megana Rao. It is edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John welcomes back Marielle Heller (Can You Ever Forgive Me?, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood) to look at three stories of real people with too much money and ask, How Would This Be a Movie? Stories include strategies for dating Leonardo DiCaprio, the rise-fall-rise of inventor Palmer Luckey, and a council built to give away a fortune. We also go feral over Marielle's new movie Nightbitch, as she shares the joys of adapting something that feels personal and her tricks to directing dogs and children. But first, we take a look at a new study on which movies studios are developing, and share exciting news for those joining us at the Austin Film Festival. In our bonus segment for premium members, Marielle and John remember the terror, nerves and euphoria of premiering your movie at film festivals. Links: Nightbitch | Official Trailer Marielle Heller Highland Pro Austin launch party – sign up here! MacGruber on Peacock Hollywood's 10 Percent Problem by Matt Belloni at Puck Dating a Celebrity – Thread by bo.predko American Vulcan by Jeremy Stern for Tablet How to Give Away a Fortune by Joshua Yaffa for The New Yorker You Get to Be Fulfilled Now by Teresa Jusino Bird Milk & Mosquito Bones by Priyanka Mattoo Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram John August on Threads, Instagram, Twitter and Mastodon Outro by Spencer Lackey (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.