Nina Ognjanovic is the director of the film, Where the Road Leads, which won Best Narrative Feature at Slamdance 2023. Nina and her passionate team prove you can successfully market a foreign, indie film on a limited budget and still win at major festivals in the US and worldwide.
In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins speaks with Nina Ognjanovic, David Jovanovic, and Jana Bjelica to discuss:
Their experience traveling from Serbia to the United States for Slamdance
Marketing the film using scrappy, creative methods
Their approach to casting and shooting
What it was like to act on multiple projects at the same time
How they handled shooting in an isolated location without cell service
Building trust with the cast, crew, and locals
The Slamdance experience and the reaction of the audience
The first shot of the film - finding a unique solution to a challenge
Setting the production schedule based on the weather conditions
The magic they experienced during production
Why you need to fail and experiment before doing a feature
Memorable Quotes
“It’s hard, but when you love your job, everything is possible” [9:23]
“I was freaking out day after day…my hair started falling off.” [21:35]
“Manage your expectations. Don’t write something you know you can’t deliver.” [30:58]
Mentioned:
Where the Road Leads on TikTok
Where the Road Leads on Instagram
Pointless Films Production House
Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
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Facebook
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YouTube
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Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool
Send us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com!
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Apr 12
39 min
Were you hoping work would pick back up after last year’s strikes? Unfortunately, work is epically slow, and 2024 is a rough year for the film industry. But just because Hollywood is slowing down, doesn’t mean you have to.
In today’s episode, No Film School’s Charles Haine, GG Hawkins, and Jason Hellerman discuss:
The industry post-strike
How higher interest rates are affecting streamers
The unpredictability of a career in film
Accepting the things out of your control
Living with family or friends to lower expenses
The unattainable “American Dream”
Staying creative during this slow year
How famine years can have their benefits
An example of finding career success outside of Hollywood
Memorable Quotes
“Work is epically slow and it’s terrifying.” [3:44]
“If you don’t have three months of cash cushion in your bank account, do not feel bad.” [19:40]
“I don’t think we need to build our identity on outside markers of financial success.” [28:21]
“If you can’t be investing money, you can be investing your energy and creativity into your future career.” [32:52]
Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
https://nofilmschool.com/
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool
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https://twitter.com/nofilmschool
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool
Send us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com!
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Apr 11
48 min
Sam Hargrave is an award winning stuntman and stunt coordinator, second unit director for films like Suicide Squad and Avengers:Endgame, and director of the film Extraction. His second feature film, Extraction 2, is available on Netflix, June 16.
In this episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins and director Sam Hargrave discuss:
The transition from stunt performing to directing
What a “stunt vis” is and why it's important for efficiency and safety on set
How directing a film is like being a switchboard operator
Why filming Extraction 2 was more challenging than the first film
Wanting to give the audience more the second time around
The specifics to the casting process
Operating the camera on the more dangerous scenes
Landing a helicopter onto a moving train
Making others feel invested in your project
Sam’s approach to emailing those he works with
Memorable Quotes
“I was young and flexible and really wanted to be Jackie Chan.” [4:06]
“There’s so many questions that come the way of the director. It feels like you are a switchboard operator on methamphetamines.” [10:07]
“Communication with other departments is one of the most important things in filmmaking.” [11:50]
“Each movie…is its own unique puzzle. It’s a labyrinth that you and the crew have to work your way through.” [14:34]
“When you can do something practically, always do it.” [23:12]
Resources:
Extraction 2 trailer
Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
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Facebook
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YouTube
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Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool
Send us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com!
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Apr 5
47 min
Heat is important to your film career. It means that you and your work are gaining attention and recognition, which can lead to more opportunities in the future. So how can you generate and navigate heat at an industry level? What contributes to “positive heat” or “negative heat?”
In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins and Jason Hellerman speak with Chris Moore, Katie Marpe, and Dennis De Nobile to discuss:
How Chris, Katie, and Dennis entered the industry and how they met
Why you need to promote yourself and your work
The One Moore Hollywood Podcast and the topics they discuss
The difference between “in the business heat” and “out of the business heat”
Seeing big corporations gravitating toward original ideas
How audiences decide whether they will watch a movie or not
Getting feedback on your ideas
Why your idea may be better suited for a different medium
Good Will Hunting - Generating authentic heat with the script
When you realize a script isn’t working
How your attitude and behavior affect the type of heat you generate
Sensing tension of the cast and crew while watching a movie
Memorable Quotes
“It’s like surfing. The best thing to do in your career is to read what’s happening around you and take the wave where it’s taking you.” [4:22]
“You have to be able to sell yourself and your ideas. You can’t just operate in a vacuum and expect somebody to discover you.” [16:12 ]
“Go out and make something you think you would pay for.” [52:12]
“What’s the commercial version of your weirdness?” [1:01:28]
“Heat will come back to you. It will tell you if your shit is good. If you can’t generate any heat, that means your shit is not good.” [1:07:17]
Mentioned:
Follow Chris on IG
Follow Dennis on IG
Follow Katie on IG
One Moore Hollywood Podcast on IG
Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
https://nofilmschool.com/
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool
Twitter
https://twitter.com/nofilmschool
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool
Send us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com!
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Apr 4
1 hr 26 min
How do you build a career as a cinematographer when the odds are against you? How do you create opportunities for yourself, when dealing with rejection, financial barriers, and prejudice? Is it possible to pursue your dream without conforming and becoming someone you are not?
In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins speaks with cinematographers Bruce Cole and Alejandro Mejía to discuss:
Being drawn to visual art from a young age
The people who encouraged and inspired their creative dreams
Feeling motivated by rejection
Why New York is a great place to start a film career
The importance of having mentors in your career journey
Stigmas they experience in the industry as minorities
Why we need to stop glamorizing film careers
How to maintain balance during long, tedious projects
Cultivating yourself and embracing who you are
Having another creative form of expression outside of film
Memorable Quotes
“I want to do this. I want to travel the world and know the world with a camera.” [14:25]
“New York is probably the best starter city for young filmmakers from all walks of life.” [40:09]
“This is not a speed race. This is a marathon. We are long-distance runners.” [71:28]
“We’re losing that artistry because we are so focused on being someone else.” [79:10]
Mentioned:
From Landing the Job to Boosting Morale: Sundance DP Roundtable Dives into Filters & More
More about Bruce
More about Alejandro
Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
https://nofilmschool.com/
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool
Twitter
https://twitter.com/nofilmschool
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool
Send us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com!
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Mar 29
1 hr 28 min
The small decisions that you make at the beginning of your project, can cause headaches later on. If you want to avoid tech issues in post, then you need to set up your project correctly from the start. Speaking of doing things right from the start, there is a right way and a wrong way to approach your interviews. How should you prepare for your next interview to make sure it doesn’t bomb?
In today’s episode, No Film School’s Charles Haine, GG Hawkins, and Jason Hellerman discuss:
Bombing interviews in Hollywood
What not to do during an interview
Going to interviews as a slightly fancier version of yourself
How to respond when someone doesn’t read your script
Feeling guilty for not reading other people’s scripts
Career errors we have learned from
The helpless feeling you get when troubleshooting tech problems
Media management issues in post-production
Sorting through the timeline and looking for weird shots
Why it’s worth bringing on subject matter experts early
Memorable Quotes
“Over-researching is never a mistake when you are given an opportunity.” [2:09]
“Everyone I know has made huge, catastrophic career mistakes and we’ve all kept going.” [9:00]
“Setting up things right from the start makes your life so much easier.” [30:29]
“God bless people in post-production. The most patient humans in the world.” [35:48]
Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
https://nofilmschool.com/
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool
Twitter
https://twitter.com/nofilmschool
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool
Send us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com!
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Mar 28
41 min
Should you hire an intimacy coordinator for your next project? What exactly does an intimacy coordinator do? Does having this person on set ruin spontaneity? How can having more structure around intimate scenes, actually encourage freedom and creativity during the storytelling process?
In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins speaks with Lisa Jacqueline Starrett, Jamie Monahan, and Renata Soares to discuss:
The role of an intimacy coordinator
What led Lisa, Jamie, and Renata to become intimacy coordinators
Wanting to advocate for actors and their boundaries
How detailed screenwriters should be when writing intimate scenes
Knowing the intention behind sex scenes
How to choreograph and rehearse intimate scenes
Being hired as an “insurance policy” to protect production
What it looks like to be actively pursuing a safe space
Having a consent - forward mentality on set
The types of conversations an intimacy coordinator should have with cast and crew
How to redirect a situation that is not working
Why art doesn’t require graphic nudity to be amazing
How to become an intimacy coordinator
Memorable Quotes
“If you’re thinking of safety protocols for staged violence, why are we not doing the same for intimacy scenes?” [13:21]
“I love thinking about art and intimacy in a way that can move storytelling forward.” [19:10]
“The creative vision of the scene doesn’t come from the intimacy coordinator…we are there to facilitate the vision to become reality.” [30:04]
“We are there to make everyone more comfortable in telling that story.” [56:26]
Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
https://nofilmschool.com/
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool
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https://twitter.com/nofilmschool
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool
Send us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com!
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Mar 22
1 hr 21 min
You are still a legitimate filmmaker even if you don’t own any gear. Most filmmakers actually don’t own the gear they use and for good reason. And speaking of gear, what movies geared you toward the path of filmmaking?
In today’s episode, No Film School’s Charles Haine, GG Hawkins, and Jason Hellerman discuss:
Buying gear or renting gear - which is better?
When you should justify buying gear
Realizing how much work it takes to create a movie
The things that made us want to work in movies
Having fun with genre
Looking for books about the making of movies
The idea of being inserted into the story
How to influence others who don’t enjoy movies
Unpredictable twists that bail out the “bad guy”
The balance between fantasy and reality in a film
Memorable Quotes
“Most professionals rent because gear has wear and tear and you outgrow it.” [5:10]
“In the digital era, shit ages fast!” [11:13]
“I cannot imagine a human with two lungs, two ears, two eyes, and a heart not loving Tokyo Drift.” [27:01]
“I already knew I wanted to be a filmmaker before I read my first IMDb trivia page.” [18:32]
Mentioned:
Share Grid rental platform
Waking Ned Devine
Clue
Shirley Temple
The Little Rascals
The Secret Garden
The Royal Tenenbaums
Being John Malkovich
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
Problemista
Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
https://nofilmschool.com/
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool
Twitter
https://twitter.com/nofilmschool
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool
Send us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com!
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Mar 21
45 min
Who says making a movie requires expensive equipment, a large crew, and a script? Maybe creating a film can be a creative experiment between a couple of friends who are excited about the uncertainty of the journey that awaits. This was the realization Pete Ohs had when he recognized that the typical approach to filmmaking was not for him.
In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins speaks with Pete Ohs, Will Madden, Frank Mosley, and Charles Watson to discuss:
Finding a location that is narratively inspiring and accessible
Thinking about the edit while directing
An extremely unique and collaborative way to develop characters
Creating a score that is not traditional to other films
Pete’s unique approach to creating movies
How Pete keeps the budget so low and why it’s important
Feeling excited by the challenge of the limited resources you have
Why the uncertainty of this style of filmmaking is exciting and magical
Their Slamdance Film Festival experience
Other festivals and what they love about them
Starting with what you have available
Memorable Quotes
“Can I make a movie the way I did when I was fifteen?” [14:27]
“It doesn’t have to cost so much money. Filmmaking can just be an activity. It can be just a hobby.” [16:19]
“Every camera that’s new is good enough. You don’t need the newest camera.” [18:09]
“There’s no reason you shouldn’t be making a movie. You can do it if you want to.” [22:26]
“The things you think you need, you probably don’t.” [40:20]
Mentioned:
LOVE AND WORK teaser
Follow Pete on Instagram
Follow Love and Work on Instagram
Follow Frank on Instagram
Follow Will on Instagram
Follow Charles on Instagram
Slamdance Film Festival
Film Fort in Idaho
Side Walk Film Festival in Alabama
Overlook Film Fesitval
American Film Festival in Poland
Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
https://nofilmschool.com/
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool
Twitter
https://twitter.com/nofilmschool
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool
Send us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com!
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Mar 15
54 min
Getting your script into the hands of the right people is extremely difficult. What is a desperate screenwriter to do if they seek feedback on their screenplay? Are script coverage services helpful or just another cog profiting from an emerging filmmaker’s hope?
In today’s episode, No Film School’s Charles Haine, GG Hawkins, and Jason Hellerman discuss:
Recalling memories from March 2020 when the world “shut down”
Why we are surprised that Nikon bought RED
The acquisition of BorrowLenses
The importance of the first 10 pages of your script
Why the opening scene of The Godfather is so powerful
The Gauntlet - a controversial script coverage service
What infuriates us about AI script coverage
Why AI cannot evaluate creative screenwriting
Hollywood, the hope machine
Memorable Quotes
“In those first ten pages you know, what is this movie and who is it for.” [14:55]
“The idea of AI evaluating your script is fucking horseshit.” [26:08]
“We keep engaging in this fantasy that AI can think. AI cannot fucking think.” [30:52]
“That’s what Hollywood is. It’s a hope machine. You always have perpetual hope that tomorrow you can become famous.” [40:46]
Mentioned:
Lensrentals To Acquire BorrowLenses
Heard of The New, Controversial Script Coverage Service The Gauntlet?
Why All AI Script Coverage is a Scam
Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
https://nofilmschool.com/
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool
Twitter
https://twitter.com/nofilmschool
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool
Send us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com!
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Mar 14
52 min
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