This episode is brought to you by our e-book Mastering Film Marketing. Get your copy today at https://themakeitpodcast.com/products/mastering-film-marketing. Use the Discount code: NASHFILM20 for 20% off EVERYTHING at themakeitpodcast.comHello, Hello! In this episode, Chris, Nick, and Producer Papa Bear sit down with Jesse Weglein — 15 years at Pixar, now founder of Illuminai Studios — joining live from the foot of Mount Fuji. Jesse worked on Up, Toy Story 3, and Toy Story 4 before a mass layoff ended that run and pushed him into building his own studio. He's using AI as a tool, not a replacement, to make original animated films for audiences the industry keeps overlooking — including his short film Roar, which Whoopi Goldberg picked for the Tribeca Film Festival.We also talk about:The creative culture at Pixar and what makes it impossible to replicate — including how directors would skip watching their own films in theaters to study the audience's reactions insteadThe global divide on AI in animation, from China's breakneck adoption of the technology to Japan's philosophical hesitation around whether AI can carry the "soul" of an artist's visionThe economic fragility of the animation business model, including the trend of outsourcing animation overseas and how AI might offer a path to reclaiming domestic production jobsThe importance of traditional art training as the essential foundation before any aspiring animator or filmmaker touches AI tools — and why skipping that foundation produces hollow, soulless contentThe passionate debate around AI's role in filmmaking, including the social policing happening on different platforms, copyright and trademark risks when using AI-generated imagery, and the distinction between using AI to accelerate creativity versus allowing it to replace it entirelyPeople, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned:PeopleJesse Weglein John LasseterSteve JobsEd CatmullPete DocterFrank OzAndrew StantonWhoopi GoldbergPhil TippettTim McLaughlin John McCarthyAkira KurosawaHayao MiyazakiFritz LangToshiro MifuneLionel MessiRay KurzweilIsaac AsimovDario Amodei Sam Altman Brian AdlerBarbara Lowenstein Films & ShowsUpToy Story 3Toy Story 4Toy Story 5The IncrediblesROAR Shine (Illuminai Studios)The Color Purple Metropolis (1927)Seven Samurai High and Low The Wind Rises Spirited Away Rashomon Red Beard Starship Troopers Jumpin' Jack Flash Sister Act A.I. Artificial Intelligence Disclosure Day The Boy and the Heron The Odyssey Companies & OrganizationsPixar Animation StudiosILLUMINAI StudiosIndustrial Light & Magic (ILM)Google DeepMindTribeca Film FestivalTexas A&M VisualizationAnthropicOpenAI / ChatGPTAppleTechnicolorNashville Film FestivalWGASoftware & TechnologyMayaPresto (Pixar's proprietary tool)PhotoshopSunoRay tracing / render farmWebsites & Social Mediailluminaistudios.comnashvillefilmfestival.orgBooks & ProductsMastering Film Marketing (ebook)Make It AcademyUp Lego SetLuxo Jr.PlacesEmeryville, California Lake Kawaguchi / Mount FujiTokyo, JapanSan Francisco, CaliforniaLucas Building/Steve Jobs BuildingDartmouth College / Dartmouth workshop, 1956Other ReferencesThe Dan Patrick ShowThe View2026 FIFA World CupNBA PlayoffsWHALE 52 — Suite For Man, Boy, And Whale Dear Upstairs Neighbors Joseph McCarthy / McCarthyismWe are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters. So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating, or giving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEITwww.themakeitpodcast.store/shop/supportAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Hello, Hello!In this episode, AI Hosts Alex Ivey and Allison Inverness take a deep dive into the life, craft, and career philosophy of actress Christine Woods — known for her roles in HBO's Hello Ladies, ABC's Flash Forward, and The Walking Dead — exploring how a profoundly shy girl from Lake Forest, California built a sustainable, authentic acting career by rejecting Hollywood's arbitrary rules. Drawing from a wide-ranging interview hosted by Chris, he unpacks how Christine transformed her fear of failure into a powerful, service-driven approach to storytelling that flips the traditional power dynamic of the audition room on its head. From her early tap dancing days and her grandfather Sterling's love of classic movie musicals to her unconventional college path, her manager's game-changing advice, and her expanding work as a producer and director, this episode offers a masterclass in building a creative career on your own terms.We also talk about:How Christine's grandfather Sterling — a hulking, ex-military man who secretly loved classic movie musicals — introduced her to films like Meet Me in St. Louis and Gene Kelly and Judy Garland, fundamentally shaping her belief that performance is communal storytelling, not ego-driven spectacleWhy Christine chose to attend the University of Arizona on a singing and vocal jazz scholarship rather than audition for prestigious conservatories like Juilliard or Carnegie Mellon, and how she made a calculated pivot to a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theater to fill a critical gap in her trainingHow severe creative constraints on low-budget indie sets — such as having only one hour left at a location to capture a crucial, emotionally exhausting scene — can actually serve as a psychological gift by forcing actors entirely into the present moment and bypassing the internal criticThe fascinating physiological mechanics behind Christine's on-set habit of performing classical vocal warm-ups right before the director calls action — including how stretching the jaw and engaging the vocal cords stimulates the vagus nerve to calm the parasympathetic nervous systemChristine's expanding work behind the camera, including producing and directing experimental comedy shorts with friends, such as one brilliantly titled Finding the Asshole, as a way to tell stories on her own terms without waiting for permission from industry gatekeepersPeople, Places, Products, and References Mentioned:PeopleChristine Woods (actress)Sterling Woods (Christine's grandfather)Eric Emery (Christine's first LA manager)Joe Sill Gene KellyJudy GarlandBilly Corgan Frank OceanShows, Films & ProjectsHello Ladies FlashForward The Walking DeadMeet Me in St. LouisStray Finding the Asshole — experimental comedy shortSchools & ProgramsUniversity of ArizonaJuilliardCarnegie MellonSocial Media@TrickyBear (Christine Woods' Instagram)Bands / ArtistsThe Smashing PumpkinsFrank OceanPlacesLake Forest, CaliforniaWe are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters. So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating, or giving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEITSubscribe: https://themakeitpodcast.store/shop/supportAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This episode is brought to you by our e-book Mastering Film Marketing. Get your copy today at https://themakeitpodcast.com/products/mastering-film-marketingHello, Hello! In this episode, Chris and Nick reunite for an Indie Talk episode packed with film industry insights, starting with Chris's powerful experience watching the James Baldwin documentary I Am Not Your Negro and a heartfelt shoutout to Carlton Adkins and the Enlightenment Film Academy's standing-room-only student film screening in Nashville. We dive deep into the evolving box office landscape, dissecting why certain legacy IP films are underperforming while YouTube-lore-driven films like Backrooms are shattering A24 records, and what that means for the future of indie filmmaking. We close with a rich discussion on George Lucas's comments about AI and audience testing, the Warner Bros./Paramount merger controversy, and a passionate defense of the theatrical experience as a community-building institution.We also talk about:The cultural and historical significance of the deaths of Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., and Medgar Evers in the 1960s, and how their simultaneous loss effectively ended a generation of Black empowerment leadershipThe nostalgia and community value of Blockbuster Video, including employee perks, the tactile VHS experience, and how video rental stores created a unique social ecosystem that streaming has failed to replicateThe philosophical tension between George Lucas's belief in pure artistic storytelling and Kevin Goetz's data-informed audience testing approach, and what each means for the future of cinemaThe proposed Warner Bros./Paramount merger, the protests and petitions against it, what it could mean for creative competition and content diversity, and parallels to Disney's acquisition of Marvel and Star WarsThe complicated cultural conversation around celebrities and public figures in the internet age, and how total transparency disabuses audiences of the idea that their heroes are perfect or infalliblePeople, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned:PeopleJames BaldwinMalcolm XMartin Luther King Jr.Medgar EversJesse JacksonAl SharptonJohn LewisDick GregoryT.D. JakesRay CharlesStevie WonderTom HollandZendayaTobey MaguireTom HardyTom BradyCarlton Adkins Kane ParsonsMarkiplierKevin Goetz George LucasSteve JobsR. KellyJean-Claude Van DammeJason MomoaBruce WillisViggo MortensenEd HarrisWilliam HurtJohn HurtDavid CronenbergDwayne "The Rock" JohnsonSamuel L. JacksonBill MaherMartin ScorseseKiefer SutherlandKevin BaconChristopher ReeveJosh PlasseTom McCullough (PB's childhood friend)Nicholas Galitzine Sam HarrisCharlamagne tha God Immortal TechniqueChris Ferguson Arnold SchwarzeneggerFilms & DocumentariesI Am Not Your NegroBackroomsLonglegs The Invite The Odyssey Spider-Man: No Way HomeThe Fifth Element12 MonkeysMoana (live action)Moana 2Toy Story 5Toy Story 3Superman Supergirl The Mandalorian and GroguBarbieEverything Everywhere All at OnceA History of ViolenceInceptionIron LungJohn WickFlatlinersFatliners (NSFW)Masters of the Universe Snakes on a PlaneMad MenBe Kind RewindHeavy Metal Another Version of YouCompanies & OrganizationsA24Warner Bros.Paramount / SkydanceDisneyMarvelPixarNetflixOddfellows Pictures — THR profileNational Action NetworkEnlightenment Film AcademyNashville Film FestivalLetterboxdBlockbuster VideoMusicClipse – Let God Sort Em Out PlacesBelcourt Theatre Oakland, CASouth KoreaWashington, D.C.Jamaica / CaribbeanWebsites & PlatformsThe MAKE IT PodcastLetterboxdNashvilleFilmFestival.orgProducts & MiscellaneousCallwood Family Distillery (Caribbean)Mastering Film Marketing Make It Academy VHS / DVD / Blu-rayIMAXDolbyDisney Movie ClubWe are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters. So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating, or giving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEITwww.themakeitpodcast.store/shop/supportAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Hello, Hello!In this episode, AI Hosts Alex Ivey and Allison Inverness dive deep into the remarkable journey of Caroline Locorriere, founder and lead coach of the Nashville Acting Studio, exploring how she walked away from a thriving commercial acting career in Los Angeles to discover her true calling as an acting teacher and coach. They unpack her empathy-driven teaching philosophy, which stands in direct opposition to the industry's notorious "whiplash method" of emotional terrorism, and examine how her three core pillars of acting craft — staying human on camera, accessing emotional life, and rigorous script analysis — create self-sufficient, sustainable artists. Drawing parallels far beyond the world of acting, this conversation serves as a masterclass in career self-awareness, psychological safety in creative environments, and the relentless tenacity required to survive in any subjective, competitive industry.We also talk about:Why getting a talent agent too early can permanently damage an actor's reputation with casting directors and how Caroline advises building craft first before seeking representationThe fascinating story of student Matt Williams, whose romantic performances lacked emotional depth because he had never been in love — and how Caroline's unconventional homework assignment (to go fall in love) led him to eventually get marriedThe brutal reality of casting subjectivity, illustrated through a heartbreaking story of a highly talented student who auditioned flawlessly for David Fincher's Mindhunter but lost the role to someone Caroline felt was objectively less impressive on screenThe role of tenacity over pure talent in sustaining a creative career, exemplified by former student Alan Powell, who wrote, produced, and starred in a film that reached number four on NetflixThe mystical and deeply personal story of Martha, an 80-year-old Episcopalian woman with the ability to see auras, whose unprompted words to Caroline at a crossroads moment gave her the validation she needed to trust her instincts and pursue teachingPeople, Places, Products, and References Mentioned:PeopleCaroline Locorriere Matt Williams Alan Powell Missy (Caroline's mother)Martha (Episcopalian aura reader) Toni MorrisonShelley DuvallBear BryantNick SabanMeryl StreepDavid FincherKonstantin StanislavskiShows / FilmsMindhunterThe ShiningInstitutions / PlacesNashville Acting StudioBelmont UniversityOhio State UniversityPlatformsNetflixConcepts / MethodsThe Whiplash Method Sunk Cost Fallacy"The three pillars of acting craft" — Caroline's framework"Camera appropriateness"Active listening/listening labsWe are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters. So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating, or giving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEITSubscribe: https://themakeitpodcast.store/shop/supportAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This episode is brought to you by Anthropic. Claude is the AI for minds that don’t stop at good enough—it's the collaborator that actually understands your entire workflow and thinks WITH you, not for you. Ready to tackle bigger problems? Sign up for Claude Pro when you use our link – www.claude.ai/makeitThis episode is brought to you by our e-book Mastering Film Marketing. Get your copy today at https://themakeitpodcast.com/products/mastering-film-marketingHello, Hello! In this episode, Nick flies solo — without co-host Chris Barkley or Producer Papa Bear, who are both traveling in Italy — to discuss acclaimed independent filmmaker and producer Oscar Boyson and his feature directorial debut, Our Hero Balthazar, a darkly comedic psychological drama that premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. Nick shares his visceral, gut-punch reaction to watching the film, unpacking how its unflinching portrayal of online culture, performative activism, masculinity, and gun violence caught him completely off guard and forced him to confront uncomfortable realities facing young people in modern America. The episode weaves together Nick's personal reflections on the film, audience poll results about social media, Gen Z viewing habit data, filmmaker quotes from Oscar Boyson, and a closing definition of success borrowed from Matt Damon.We also talk about:How Our Hero Balthazar uses dark comedy and social satire to hold a mirror up to the uncomfortable realities of young people navigating social media, identity, and belongingNick's personal Instagram algorithm experiment — and what it revealed about how social media can trap users in a cycle of consuming the same content repeatedly, potentially shaping their identityGen Z viewing habits data from Deloitte's Digital Media Trends Study (2025–2026), including how much more time Gen Z spends on social platforms versus traditional TV and moviesWhy going to the theater is increasingly becoming an event-driven, culturally shared experience — and what independent filmmakers must do to get young audiences off their couches and into seatsMatt Damon's definition of success — "all we have as the people making it is the love of the doing it" — and how that philosophy connects directly to the spirit of the MAKE IT PodcastPeople, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned:PeopleOscar BoysonNoah BaumbachThe Safdie BrothersRicky Camilleri Jaeden Martell Noah CentineoAsa Butterfield Chris Bauer Matt DamonClaire HuxtableFilms & TVOur Hero BalthazarFrances HaUncut GemsStreet FighterFestivals & EventsTribeca Film FestivalPlatforms & Social MediaLetterboxdPostly.aiCanvaRiverside.fmResearch & StudiesDeloitte Digital Media TrendsFandango Moviegoing Study OrganizationsWater.org (Matt Damon's charity)We are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters. So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating, or giving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEITwww.themakeitpodcast.store/shop/supportAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

WHAT IS FILM BRIEF?Blending journalism with artistry, Film Brief transforms film analysis into an engaging and informative listening experience. The goal is to reveal what makes each movie or series resonate—on screen and behind the scenes. For listeners, it’s not just a review; it’s an exploration of the art of filmmaking.BRIEF:In this episode, Nick dives deep on Toy Story 5, the highly anticipated return of Pixar's beloved franchise directed by Andrew Stanton and co-directed by Kenna Harris, exploring how the film tackles the timely and thought-provoking theme of childhood imagination in a screen-saturated world. The episode examines how Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the gang face their most contemporary challenge yet — competing with a tablet named Lily Pad that promises endless digital entertainment — while unpacking the film's deeper philosophical questions about identity, connection, and what it means to truly grow up. Nicholas reflects on the emotional resonance of experiencing the film in a theater alongside family and community, ultimately framing Toy Story 5 as a love letter to imagination, collaboration, and the irreplaceable power of human connection.TAKEAWAYS:The directorial pairing of Andrew Stanton and Kenna Harris, and how their distinct backgrounds shape the film's artistic and emotional visionThe symbolic role of the Lily Pad tablet as a representation of digital culture's competition with imaginative play, rather than a traditional villainThe identity crisis sparked by an army of Buzz Lightyear action figures, and how the film uses their existence to explore what truly makes a person — or a toy — specialJessie's expanded emotional arc as she steps into the center of the story, discovering that leadership is about becoming who others need you to beThe film's connection to Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey framework, and how Toy Story 5 quietly argues that no hero — and no healing — happens in isolationMENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:Films / ProjectsToy Story 5Toy Story (original)Toy Story 4Finding NemoWALL-ECiao Alberto PeopleAndrew Stanton Kenna Harris Randy Newman Joseph Campbell CharactersWoodyBuzz LightyearJessieBonnieTechnology / Products (Fictional)Lilypad (the tablet, voiced by Greta Lee)Organizations / BrandsPixarEbook: "Mastering Film Marketing"The MAKE IT PodcastWe are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters. So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating us, or leaving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEITAll Links: https://themakeitpodcast.storeAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Hello, Hello!In this episode, AI Hosts Alex Ivey and Allison Inverness dive deep into the archives of the MAKE IT Podcast (Episode 174) to extract the raw, unfiltered reality of indie filmmaker Josh Bishop's journey — from his punk rock-influenced teenage years in Europe to premiering his debut documentary at South by Southwest after an extraordinary 11-year production process. They explore how Josh's philosophy of film as "a window in a tunnel" shapes not only his creative vision but also the production company he co-founded with his wife, Keturah, and how advice from his idol Jim Jarmusch permanently redirected his career. The episode serves as a masterclass for any creative — filmmaker, writer, or entrepreneur — wrestling with the timeless tension between authentic artistic expression and the brutal financial realities of independent creation.We also talk about:The stark philosophical and structural differences between the European taxpayer-funded film system and the commercially driven American Hollywood machine, and what those differences mean for artistic freedomThe profound influence of old-school New York stop-motion animator and punk rock musician Jim Starace on Josh's creative DNA and his lifelong rejection of "selling out"The psychological and professional whiplash filmmakers experience when they transition from the creative grind of making an independent film to the cutthroat business reality of festival circuit sales and distribution pitchingThe radical democratization of filmmaking technology, including a local filmmaker named Kd Amond who shot an entire feature-length horror film called Faye using only an iPhone 8, and what that means for the "I don't have the right equipment" excuseJosh's deeply humble personal philosophy of holding up a mirror to society rather than preaching — including his decision to spend four straight days shooting raw documentary footage in the aftermath of a Nashville tornado without any commercial agendaPeople, Places, Products, and References Mentioned:PeopleJosh Bishop Jim Starace Jim Jarmusch Keturah BishopTomi Fujiyama Morgan Spurlock Elijah WoodStefan Pokorny Anthony BourdainKd AmondMartin Scorsese Bands & MusicPuny Human Norman Bates & The Showerheads — limited web presence; best found via DiscogsThe Ramones Films & ProjectsDown by Law Coffee and Cigarettes Made in JapanThe DwarvenautDestination Fantastic Faye Companies, Organizations & PlatformsA Window in a Tunnel Grand Ole OprySouth by Southwest (SXSW)Dwarven ForgeKickstarterDungeons & DragonsLegion M iPhone 8 Cotton BureauPlacesIceland Netherlands (Holland) BelgiumNew York City We are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters. So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating, or giving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEITSubscribe: https://themakeitpodcast.store/shop/supportAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This episode is brought to you by Anthropic. Claude is the AI for minds that don’t stop at good enough—it's the collaborator that actually understands your entire workflow and thinks WITH you, not for you. Ready to tackle bigger problems? Sign up for Claude Pro when you use our link – www.claude.ai/makeitThis episode is brought to you by our e-book Mastering Film Marketing. Get your copy today at https://themakeitpodcast.com/products/mastering-film-marketingHello, Hello! In this episode, we welcome back Daril Fannin, founder and CEO of Kino Studios, to celebrate the major milestone of his horror film Undertone being acquired by A24 and its theatrical run, which generated over $9 million in opening weekend box office on a $500,000 budget. Daril shares the journey of bringing Undertone from the Fantasia International Film Festival to Sundance and ultimately to wide release, while discussing A24's unique and authentic marketing approach that helped the film connect with audiences in a meaningful way. The conversation also dives deep into the independent film ecosystem, the economics of filmmaking, the role of social media and AI tools in modern content creation, and what it truly means to "make it" in Hollywood.We also talk about:The debate around Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic and how much critical scores actually influence moviegoers' choices, including an audience poll revealing that 56% of viewers say critics don't influence their decisions at allThe viral social media post by an art director on the film Obsession, who expressed frustration about her low pay despite the film's massive financial success, and what that reveals about systemic economic inequity in the independent film industryThe rise of Neuralink and the broader philosophical conversation about AI integration into human life, including comparisons to Brave New World, social media data harvesting, and the future of human creativity and autonomyWhy horror is the new comedy in 2026, and how films like Undertone, Obsession, Iron Lung, and Backrooms are proving that audience-first, word-of-mouth driven indie horror is the most viable path for independent filmmakers todayThe power of resilience in the creative journey, with Daril sharing personal reflections on bouncing back from failure, surrounding yourself with the right people, and the importance of not sharing your biggest ambitions with those who can't understand the artist's pathPeople, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned:Platforms, Tools & ServicesClaude / Claude Pro (Anthropic)Cowork (Claude's agentic desktop app)Rotten TomatoesMetacriticIMDbLetterboxdNeuralinkGeminiCollection Account Management Agreement (CAMA) FilmChain Films Undertone (Kino Studios / A24) Obsession (Curry Barker) Iron Lung Backrooms (Kane Parsons / A24) The Matrix Raiders of the Lost Ark Gladiator Dumb and Dumber The Mask Ace Ventura: Pet Detective Malcolm & Marie High School Musical Sinners Oppenheimer Hamnet The Deer Hunter Nuremberg (Russell Crowe)Wedding CrashersStar Wars: The Phantom Menace (Episodes I–III)Creed IIIAnt-Man and the Wasp: QuantumaniaHow to Train Your Dragon (2025)Black Phone 2Regretting YouAvengers: EndgameSpider-Man: No Way HomeProject Hail MaryThe TerminatorWeapons (Zach Cregger)The Drama (Zendaya / Robert Pattinson)The Curious Case of Benjamin ButtonMeet Joe BlackPeople — Industry & Public FiguresDaril Fannin (Kino CEO)Ian Tuason (director of Undertone) (see note)Nina Kiri (lead, Undertone)Rick RubinRainer Maria RilkeJordan PeeleMarkiplierCurry Barker (Obsession)Kane Parsons (Backrooms)Sally Choi (art director, Obsession)Kevin GoetzJim CarreyMason ThamesZendayaRobert PattinsonHayden ChristensenRussell CroweHarrison FordBrad PittTom CruiseJonathan MajorsForest WhitakerTyler PerryBen StillerWill FerrellAdam SandlerSteve MartinSiskel and EbertPeter TraversLon Harris Cinema Joe Christopher NolanElon MuskMark ZuckerbergDick GregoryKevin HartShow Team (internal — no public links)Joey "Bags" von HaegerBooksThe Creative Act: A Way of Being (Rick Rubin)Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)Nineteen Eighty-Four (George Orwell)The Crossroads of Should and Must (Elle Luna) Companies & OrganizationsKino StudiosA24NeonBlumhouseVillage RoadshowOrion PicturesArtists Equity (see note)AnthropicDGASAG-AFTRAIATSERolling StoneFantasia International Film FestivalSundance Film FestivalSXSWAlamo DrafthouseCannes Film FestivalWe are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters. So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating, or giving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEITwww.themakeitpodcast.store/shop/supportAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Hello, Hello!In this episode, AI Hosts Alex Ivey and Allison Inverness dive deep into the remarkable career of London-based filmmaker and visual effects artist Magali Barbe, whose passion project short film Strange Beasts went viral overnight and landed her offers from 20th Century Fox and top Hollywood talent agencies. They explore how her 13 years as a pre-visualization artist on blockbuster films like Wonder Woman, Avengers: Endgame, and Fantastic Beasts gave her the technical foundation to create an independently produced short film so polished that Hollywood executives assumed it was a multi-million dollar studio production. The conversation broadens into a sweeping philosophical examination of how digital technology — from augmented reality and deepfakes to social media algorithms and genetic manipulation — is fundamentally reshaping human connection, perception, and society itself.We also talk about:The psychological toll of spending over a decade executing someone else's creative vision as a pre-visualization artist, and how that frustration became the fuel for Magali's creative pivot into independent filmmakingThe deliberate design philosophy behind the robot Max in This Time Away — specifically, why giving a futuristic robot the texture and finish of a 1970s kitchen appliance was a calculated psychological choice rooted in the uncanny valley theoryThe structural and cultural differences between the French and British film industries, including how France's government-subsidized CNC system creates institutional bureaucracy, while the UK's scarcity of funding forces a passionate, grassroots DIY filmmaking cultureThe concept of a "water bottle tour" in Hollywood — the grueling marathon of studio meetings that newly signed talent must endure, which functions less as a pitch session and more as a high-stakes personality and temperament auditThe piano chord metaphor shared by Chris Barkley in the original interview, which equates the musical necessity of space between notes to the human need for distance and breathing room in relationships, and how modern technology's relentless drive to eliminate friction may be destroying the beautiful music of genuine human connectionPeople, Places, Products, and References Mentioned:PeopleMagali Barbe (filmmaker/VFX artist)David Heyman (producer)Timothy Spall (stars in This Time Away)Tom Cruise (deepfake example)Films & ProjectsStrange Beasts (her viral short)This Time Away (her second short)Wonder Woman (previs)Kingsman: The Golden Circle (previs)Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (previs)Avengers: Endgame (previs)WALL-E (robot design reference)Companies, Organizations & PlatformsVimeo20th Century Studios (formerly 20th Century Fox)United Talent Agency (UTA)CNC (Centre National du Cinéma)Silicon ValleyConcepts & TechnologiesPre-visualization (Previz)Augmented Reality (AR)The Uncanny ValleyDeepfakesCRISPRBully Whippets (myostatin / double-muscling)The Marketplace of Ideas"Move Fast and Break Things"Water Bottle Tour — industry-ritual slang for a series of back-to-back Studio meetingsThe Piano / F♯ and F♮ Metaphor — Chris Barkley's original analogy about conflict when one note (or person) smothers anotherWe are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters. So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating, or giving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEITSubscribe: https://themakeitpodcast.store/shop/supportAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This episode is brought to you by our e-book Mastering Film Marketing. Get your copy today at https://themakeitpodcast.com/products/mastering-film-marketingHello, Hello! In this episode, we sit down with legendary audience research expert Kevin Goetz, the CEO of Screen Engine, who has tested over 5,000 film and television titles for major studios over three decades. Kevin shares his journey from aspiring Broadway performer to becoming Hollywood's most trusted voice on audience testing, discussing how filmmakers can use audience feedback to enhance rather than compromise their creative vision. The conversation explores the evolution of audience expectations in the streaming era, the importance of knowing your deficits as an entrepreneur, and Kevin's philosophy on following passion over profit.We also talk about:• Kevin's childhood in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, and the family dynamics that shaped his drive for success • The misconceptions filmmakers have about audience testing and how it actually enhances creative vision • How streaming platforms have changed viewer behavior, and the need for compelling cold opens • The importance of self-awareness in leadership and surrounding yourself with people better than you at specific skills • Kevin's approach to delegation, team building, and scaling a business with 320 employeesPeople, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned:Screen Engine/ASIBBMG Entertainment — kevingoetz360.comHow to Score in HollywoodAudienceologyProducers Guild of AmericaAmerican CinemathequeNashville Film FestivalNews & Media ServicesGround NewsSemafor The Media LinePeopleDerek Guy (menswear writer)Joan RiversNicole KidmanCharles Roven (producer)Lauren Shuler Donner  Richard DonnerStephanie Allain Donald De Line (PGA)Ben Fritz (Wall Street Journal)Barbara JarrettBrooke ShieldsJared LetoTravis KnightFilms & TVGhostSinnersEverything Everywhere All at OnceHacks (HBO Max)Masters of the Universe (He-Man movie)Backrooms (A24)Iron LungPlaces & InstitutionsBensonhurst, BrooklynEast Brunswick, New JerseyNashville, TennesseeVanderbilt UniversityWe are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters. So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating, or giving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEITwww.themakeitpodcast.store/shop/supportAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy