Tom Morris https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2730235/ joins Carlyn Hudson - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3972277 https://www.instagram.com/carlynhudson to talk about their views on making that signature feature film that everyone dreams of, one that is an iconic piece of IP that launches a Jordan Peele-career.

And Oren and Matt dive into what that means when you start wanting to own a house, have kids, and think about college -- not your college tuition, but your kids! On the one hand, a successful freelance career in commercials, can make it all happen. And over 10 years, 15 years or more it can elevate your directing chops beyond what you could have imagined. On the other hand, it can be the very reason why chasing that feature, the one that finally shows your fill skill set and ability, is a financial fantasy. Why risk losing more work to take 2, 3, or 10 years to make that feature?

And Tom gets into how, after having several features under his belt, what would get him noticed by influential showrunners, was making another short.

Ira Glass preached about how you have to stick it out until your talent matches your taste. But is that even possible in a future with AI?

This is the mature, filmmaker convo that no one gets into. And it comes at a time when what you do next matters more than ever.

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Matt's Endorsement: Weleda Skin Food https://www.weleda.com/product/skin-food-light-nourishing-cream-g007756

Oren's Endorsement: How to be a human fly swatter using the Alan Gwizdowski method https://www.instagram.com/alangwiz/ .

Tom's Endorsement: the medical staff at Cedar's Sinai Hospital

Carlyn's Endorsement: "The Battered Bastard of Baseball" documentary on Netflix https://www.netflix.com/title/70299904

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Matt & Oren dive into answering your questions. It's a new format and we hope it clicks! And whether it works or not, there's a new way you can let them know.

There's questions from early career filmmakers. What is the one piece of gear filmmakers buy early on, but don't need? What's the best way to invest $100 in film gear? How do you write dialog that feels real?

And questions about life on set. Like, what's the most stressful part of directing? What does a director actually do once they're on set? And what are some things that go wrong on every shoot?

And they round out the episode with some hacks for tackling the toughest production problems.

But most importantly, Matt and Oren are throwing a party. And it's your chance to connect with other filmmakers and let them know what you think! RSVP below!

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!!! PARTY INFO !!!

Free tickets!

Wednesday, October 8 · 7 - 10pm PDT

Lawless Brewing Co.

5275 Craner Avenue Los Angeles, CA 91601

RSVP and info at https://events.justshootitpod.com or https://www.eventbrite.com/e/just-shoot-it-october-meetup-tickets-1665676596539

Matt's Endorsement: Drink whole milk. Not skim, 2%, soy milk or one of those other kinds of milk. Even as an adult. And not just in your coffee.

Oren's Endorsement: Use Midjourney to make animated lower thirds.

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Marvel director Kat Coiro https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0192478 covers everything from working with day players to why directors have to take acting classes. Once an actor herself, Kat has mastered the art of infusing enthusiasm into every set and using that energy to supercharge collaboration.

Kat's worn every hat—writer, actor, director, producer, EP, and more. And while CAA found her because of her short film, her deep understanding of each role on set propelled her into a coveted career directing "Marry Me" with Owen Wilson and Jennifer Lopez, "Matlock" with Kathy Bates, Marvel's "She Hulk: Attorney at Law", to name a few.

Is there ever over-preparing as a director? Not according to Kat. It's all about putting in the work, asking questions of your showrunner, and really investing into its world. And she doesn't downplay the ability to leverage commercial sensibilities, and pitching with decks and details that can take weeks simply on spec.

Join us October 8th for a meetup in @ Lawless Brewery in North Hollywood.

Tickets are free, but RSVP at: events.JustShootItpod.com

Matt and Oren get Kat to share her go‑to techniques for “talking details through” before stepping on set. And why talking about how you were up all night working on the show, isn't necessarily a good sign.

In fact, Kat's a big believer in the importance of self-care in projecting confidence. And mantra is about knowing when :slowing down" unlocks "speeding up". For Kat, relaxing and taking care of yourself is a huge part of a show's overall success.

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Matt's Endorsement: Atlas Obscura App https://app.atlasobscura.com/

Oren's Endorsement: Swap wearing your watch on different wrists to avoid tan lines. Use Midjourney https://www.midjourney.com/home for art direction inspiration.

Kat's Endorsement: the Oura Ring https://ouraring.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After an amazing DP/cinematographer has an unfortunate schedule change, Matt & Oren whip up a discussion about social media and listener notes about their websites. And Matt talks about how his LinkedIn post got noticed. And there's a surprising little twist that might make some listeners uneasy.

Later, they dig into a listener question. And that leads to some banter about the must haves when you're shooting a commercial on spec. And Matt decodes a list of items that make a compelling spec, especially when you write it yourself.

Matt's Endorsement: Fog machines are inexpensive right now.

Oren's Endorsement: You can Google how long trailers are before a movie plays.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt & Oren discuss the feeling dogging every freelancer: "Will I ever work again?" They dig into who they recommend when they can't take an awesome job, and how that has paid it forward in good ways. Maybe it's all about who you vibe with.

But what is that, exactly? And what if a brand or agency does a vibe check on you? Surprisingly, it's like a date, and more of sales pitch so be prepared!

But there's a way to show up with a certain enthusiasm for a project and demonstrate a personal connection without sounding like a cold email that falls on its face. This episode is definitely worth a listen if you're trying to rack up more jobs this year!

Matt's Endorsement: Deschute's Fresh Squeezed Non-Alcohoilc IPA https://deschutesbrewery.com/products/fresh-squeezed-non-alcoholic

Oren's Endorsement: Tab Groups in Google Chrome. R-Click on a tab > Add Tab to New Group. Also on Chromium-based browsers like Firefox and Brave. https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/2391819?hl=en&sjid=9324260012388965296-NC#zippy=%2Cgroup-your-tabs

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt's been getting wrapped up in analytics, and Oren's been updating his reel. So yeah, update your f**king website if you haven't!

This week, we get into where to host your portfolio whether you want the best web host or video platform. And we dive into some honest talk about what defines you as a director, because trying to be everything just doesn't work. There are also some hot tips on things you can do to stand out as someone exciting to work with.

If you're seriously building a career as a filmmaker, this is a must-listen.

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Matt's Endorsement: Watch "The French Connection" (1971) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067116/

Oren's Endorsement: Get good at making slide decks because they will help you sell your ideas.

And Bob Odenkirk on Mike Birbiglia's Podcast, "Working It Out" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/179-bob-odenkirk-the-art-of-anger-in-comedy/id1515419751?i=1000719445989

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Director Emily Elizabeth Thomas joins Matt and Oren to talk about her journey from commercial success to directing vertical series and feature films.

Meanwhile, Oren’s been updating his website and shares some valuable insights on what to include in your reel, what to leave out, and why it matters. And that leads into Matt sharing some insightful data on how many views a reel gets per day.

Back to Emily—she’s all about making everything feel like a movie, even a vertical series. She shares how she fought for that vision and explains how shooting open gate helped convince producers they could save money doing it her way. And maybe even make more with some luck.

At her core, Emily is a craft-driven filmmaker with a passion for detail. She talks about her love for set design and working with artisanal couturiers to find the perfect accessories, like a custom western hat from Austin or hours spent digging through costumes at Warner Brothers.

The episode wraps with practical tips on surgically using tools like jibs, Steadicams, and Technocrane (yeah the gear producers often assume is out of budget) to maximize production value and scope on a tight budget.

You can find Emily here:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8502506/

https://www.electriccowgirl.xyz/

IG: @emilyelizabeththomas/

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Matt's Endorsement: Letterboxd's interview with the stars of "I Like Movies" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE1kANkYGSw and the movie itself https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14913282/

Oren's Endorsement: The book "Linchpin" by Seth Godin https://seths.store/linchpin/. The subreddit /vfx https://www.reddit.com/r/vfx/. And, Filmvibes https://filmvibes.io/

Emily's Endorsement: Jean Paul Gauthier's Wardrobe design and Styling of the movie "The Fifth Element". Vidiots theatre https://vidiotsfoundation.org/. And the movie itself https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119116/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jamaal Parham, part of the directing duo Jams and Bash, talks to Oren and Matt about how they approach their business without the cheesiness. From a start working exclusively with Broadway productions, they've become a CAA-recognized brand in sports comedy.

Matt discusses how the dream of never looking at a spreadsheet isn’t realistic in filmmaking, or at least not in building a career in it. And Jamaal shares secrets on how they connect with decision-makers through targeted social media strategies that go beyond traditional PR, advertising, or social thinking.

**Key lesson:** A lot of directing is really hosting. Don’t get it? Check out this amazing episode!

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1729641/

https://www.jamsandbash.com/

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Matt's Endorsement: Chris Moran | Creative Breakdowns on TikTok and his tutorials on the Vox aesthetic https://www.tiktok.com/@chrismoran__

Oren's Endorsement: order your pet meds from https://discountpetmedication.biz/ and the use Amazon to monitor for deals on what you want, like a Dyson v11, and get a great deal on Prime Week.

Jamaal's Endorsement: "The Black Pack" book by Artel Great https://www.rutgersuniversitypress.org/the-black-pack/9781978838130/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.