The No Film School Podcast

• What It Takes to Make a First Feature

  In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, GG Hawkins hosts a conversation with filmmakers Annapurna Sriram ("Fucktoys") and Alex Burunova ("Satisfaction"). Fresh from their South by Southwest premieres, they open up about the challenges and triumphs of making their first feature films independently. From the loneliness of directing to finding creative collaborators, the trio shares the real, raw experience of being “in the thick of it” during production and beyond. In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins and guests discuss... Why making a first feature feels like living on an island — literally and metaphorically The emotional rollercoaster of independent filmmaking and the power of perseverance The origins of "Fucktoys" and "Satisfaction," and how personal experiences inspired the films Casting without “named talent” and the importance of authentic performances How microbudget hacks, from thrift store shopping to strategic returns, kept productions alive The importance of finding your “spiritual warriors” (aka collaborators who get it) How to carry the lessons of your first feature into your next project Memorable Quotes: “If you can see all the heartbreak ahead, I don't know that anybody would climb the mountain.” “You’re not the first person to deal with a catastrophe — every person deals with it.” “Be a scout. Be a badass. Discover undiscovered talent.” “The gap in the teeth leads to the heart. It’s all a map.” Guests: Annapurna Sriram (Director, Writer, Lead Actor of Fucktoys) Alex Burunova (Director, Writer of Satisfaction) Resources: Fucktoys on Instagram: @fucktoysthemovie Satisfaction on Instagram: @satisfactionfilm I Really Love My Husband on Instagram: @ireallylovemyhusbandmovie 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 📩 Send us an email with questions or feedback: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Studio Strategy & Indie Grit in the Wake of ‘Sinners’

  In this two-part episode of the No Film School Podcast, hosts GG Hawkins and Jason Hellerman dive into the success of Ryan Coogler’s new original film Sinners, a box office hit that marks a significant moment for original storytelling in Hollywood. They explore Coogler’s strategic career trajectory from shorts to studio features, examining what emerging filmmakers can learn from his path. Later in the episode, GG takes us back to the 2022 Sundance Film Festival with an interview featuring director Sing J. Lee. They discuss his debut feature, The Accidental Getaway Driver, and the deeply personal journey behind its creation, from a 10-year music video career to a rapid eight-week co-writing process, and the film’s intimate portrayal of cultural duality and human connection. In this episode we discuss... The box office and cultural impact of Ryan Coogler’s Sinners Coogler’s path from indie shorts to studio blockbusters The importance of building a team and sustaining collaborations Crafting and maintaining a personal voice within the studio system GG’s interview with director Sing J. Lee about his feature debut The intersection of personal history and narrative storytelling in The Accidental Getaway Driver Sing’s transition from music videos to feature filmmaking Writing and directing with emotional and cultural authenticity Memorable Quotes: "It’s been a long time since something original entered the cultural lexicon." "Artists should work on something that not only matters to them but that the world needs to hear about." "We’re looking for the vessel for where our voice might be best suited." "You’ve already done so much work, whether you know it or not." Guest: Sing J. Lee – IMDb 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 📩 Send us an email with questions or feedback: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• The Secret to a Calm Film Set with Director Mimi Cave

  Director Mimi Cave joins No Film School’s GG Hawkins and guest co-host Madison Lanesey for a candid conversation about her path from dance to directing, maintaining artistic vision in the studio system, and fostering a grounded and collaborative atmosphere on set. Mimi opens up about the emotional rollercoaster of filmmaking, the practical steps she takes to craft immersive visual tones, and how she cultivates trust with her actors and crew. The episode offers a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes processes of her features Fresh and Holland, along with valuable insights for emerging filmmakers. In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins, guest co-host Madison Lanesey, and guest Mimi Cave discuss... Mimi’s creative origins in dance and how it led her into filmmaking The challenges and strategies of transitioning from indie to studio features Post-feature emotional “off-boarding” and how to manage the crash Establishing a calm and collaborative environment on set How she works with actors and tailors her directing approach to each personality Maintaining creative control within the studio system The importance of curiosity, asking questions, and embracing not knowing Building strong collaborative relationships with DPs, editors, and producers Memorable Quotes: "You get addicted to that... being needed all day is really amazing." "Take everything two days at a time... Anything after that's going to change anyways." "I walked into the set and I was like, you could hear a pin drop... it was so peaceful." "Some of the best filmmakers ever are some of the most unique, nerdy, freaky, out there people." Guest: Mimi Cave Resources: Fresh – Available on Hulu Holland – Available on Amazon Prime Video 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  📩 Send us an email with questions or feedback: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Why Playing It Safe Will Ruin Your Movie — Blumhouse Hit Director Christopher Landon on Drop

  Writer-director Christopher Landon joins No Film School’s GG Hawkins to discuss his newest film Drop, a sharp, suspenseful thriller starring Meghann Fahy. Known for genre-bending films like Happy Death Day, Freaky, and We Have a Ghost, Landon dives deep into his evolution as a filmmaker, how he overcame early failures, the importance of authenticity in storytelling, and the meticulous craft behind building tension. Landon also opens up about creating a supportive environment on set, casting with intuition, and how trusting his gut has shaped his career. In this episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins and guest Christopher Landon discuss: How Christopher Landon’s love of horror movies began as a kid Early career failures and how they became pivotal learning moments Writing and selling Disturbia and joining the Paranormal Activity franchise The "feel-good horror" tone he discovered with Happy Death Day How Drop evolved from script to final film Shooting in sequence to elevate performances The importance of a supportive, no-asshole policy set How trusting his gut guides casting, shooting, and script decisions Advice for emerging filmmakers working within the studio system Memorable Quotes: "Failure is the greatest teacher." "If it ain’t on the page, it ain’t on the stage." "Casting is the one thing where I tune everybody out. I have to know it in my marrow." "Hollywood is seductive — don't chase the shiny things." Guest: Christopher Landon Resources: The 7 Best Plot Twists of All Time 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 📩 Send us an email with questions or feedback: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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  59:44
• What They Don’t Tell You About Editing a Feature with 'Sacramento' Editor

  What don't they tell you? They you gotta take a break! In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins and Jason Hellerman sit down with editor Max Goldblatt, who cut the heartfelt and hilarious indie road trip film Sacramento. Directed by Michael Angarano and starring Michael Cera, Kristen Stewart, and Maya Erskine, the film made waves at Tribeca and has since garnered a devoted following. Max shares how he got into editing, his long-time collaboration with Angarano, and offers invaluable insight into the nuanced craft of post-production—especially on a tight budget and timeline. In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins and guest Max Goldblatt discuss... How Max and director Michael Angarano formed their creative bond through music The challenges and victories of licensing a Rolling Stones song for an indie film Editorial techniques like split compositions and how they elevate performance Why taking breaks during the edit can lead to better storytelling Max’s unconventional path into editing and the moment he almost walked away from filmmaking The balance between instinct and structure when cutting complex character scenes Memorable Quotes: “Michael kind of broke the cardinal rule of putting a song in the script.” “Sometimes there's just this alchemy when you choose something maybe almost at random.” “I was about to quit trying to pursue film period before I was connected with Mike Angarano.” “Sometimes it takes feedback or questions that people have about characters, and you realize that the answer was there all along.” Guests: Max Goldblatt Resources: Sacramento on IMDb Michael Angarano’s first film, Avenues Robert Schwartzman's film The Argument Jason Hellerman's article on "Man on a Mission" stories 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 📩 Send us an email with questions or feedback: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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