- 448 - 25 Years After 9/11: The Doc Narrated by Gary Sinise | Michael Gier on Losing Everything and Starting Over at 40
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Hello, Hello!
In this episode, filmmaker and former performer Michael Gier explains how he made his documentary The Heroism and Resiliency of 9/11: From Tragedy to Triumph. He shares stories of first responders, civilians, Flight 93, the boat lift, and rare footage from the Pentagon. The conversation also explores creative careers, rejection, film school, entrepreneurship, and what it means to MAKE IT.
We also talk about:
- The personal stories behind the documentary, including Will Jimeno’s rescue, the “Man in the Red Bandana,” and Lauren Grankolus’s voicemail.
- Michael’s journey from theater and television to building Geier Productions after losing his real-estate business in the 2008 crash.
- Lessons from Wounded Heroes, including Michael’s search for treatments that help people living with post-traumatic stress.
- The “Praise You” video, the Torrance Community Dancers, Spike Jonze’s Richard Koufey persona, and the group’s three MTV Video Music Awards.
- Michael’s advice on versatility, business skills, collaboration, learning by doing, and staying grounded through career setbacks.
People, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned:
People — Show & Family
Terri Gier
People — 9/11
Scott Strauss (NYPD ESU)
Sgt. John McLoughlin
Lauren Grandcolas & Jack Grandcolas
Pavel Hlava
Jude Koch
People — Performers & Filmmakers
People — Other Public Figures
Groups & Characters
Projects
The Heroism and Resiliency of 9/11: From Tragedy to Triumph
TV & Film
Places
Zamunda (fictional)
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. #MAKEIT
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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy1h 49m - Oct 16, 2026 - SUMMARIES - Julius Ritter - The Permissionless Revolution & When Zero Dollars Isn’t Zero Vision
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. #MAKEIT
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Hello, Hello!
In this episode, AI Hosts Alex Ivey and Allison Inverness explore Julius Ritter’s evolution from biracial child and working actor to independent writer-director. The conversation examines permissionless work, zero-budget filmmaking, creative solitude, and the search for timeless artistic themes. It is essential listening for filmmakers who want to build original work without waiting for industry approval.
We also talk about:
- How being labeled can lead an artist to invent new worlds and identities.
- Why Ritter paused Sock and Buskin to pursue a $100,000 GoFundMe.
- The relationship between casting debates, colorism, representation, and working artists’ livelihoods.
- Why internet slang can date a screenplay while universal themes remain accessible.
- How solitude prepares a creative blueprint before collaboration brings it to life.
People, Places, Products, and References Mentioned:
People
Julius Charles Ritter (also on TMDB)
Acting Credits
Gap (Gap Kids)
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life
His Own Films
Sock and Buskin Film Fund (GoFundMe)
Mr. Misery
Americana, White Sheets
Organizations & Platforms
References & Places
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy15m - Oct 13, 2026 - Bonus Episode: 48 Hour Film Project Winner Allison Alonzo on How to Make a Film in 48 Hours
This episode is brought to you by MAKE IT Academy. Get access to 200+ courses today at https://themakeitpodcast.com/pages/academy and use code: ACADEMY50 for 50% off the Academy for a year!
Hello, Hello!
In this episode, Allison Alonso explains how she led her first 48 Hour Film Project as a director and won with Falling Short. She breaks down the competition’s strict rules, the creative decisions behind the film, and the practical realities of making a short film in 48 hours. The conversation also explores filmmaking careers, crew leadership, food on set, film influences, and what it means to make it.
We also talk about:
- How the 48 Hour Film Project assigns the same prop, required phrase, and character details to every team.
- Why Allison chose fantasy over dystopia/utopia and how the team made a tomato work at a gas station location.
- The importance of feeding a crew, from Mexican bowls at lunch to Hunts Brothers pizza at 2 a.m.
- How a production team can protect a story’s twist by listening to actors and department heads during shooting.
- Why Allison sees the project as a return to film after taking a job at Vanderbilt University for stability, health insurance, paid time off, and a break from the industry.
People, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned:
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Food & Brands
People
Jordan Chateau
Connor Bacon
Seth Shepard
Jones Kolbinski
Jake Gilbert
Schools
Film Events & Organizations
48 Hour Film Project — Nashville
Point of VU Film Festival (POVU) — Vanderbilt’s student festival
Places & Venues
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. #MAKEIT
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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy42m - Oct 9, 2026 - 447 - What Money Can’t Fix on a Film Set, Why People Need People, and Creative Sets, AI, and Staying Weird - Nichole Marie Lim
This episode is brought to you by MAKE IT Academy. Get access to 200+ courses today at https://themakeitpodcast.com/pages/academy and use code: ACADEMY50 for 50% off the Academy for a year!
Hello, Hello!
In this episode, we speak with Nashville filmmaker Nicole Marie Lim about building a career across makeup, writing, producing, and directing. Nicole explains how supportive relationships, practical set skills, and respectful leadership shape better creative work. The conversation also examines AI, vertical video, mid-budget filmmaking, actor chemistry, and what it means to make it without losing the joy of creating.
We also talk about:
- How makeup artists can prepare for their first professional set.
- Why continuity, schedules, and department-specific language matter.
- The limits of glamour, fame, and money in filmmaking.
- Why directors should trust department heads and communicate according to individual needs.
- How chemistry reads can reveal unexpected casting choices.
People, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned:
People
Nichole Marie Lim (also IMDb)
Joy Todd
David Lim
Michelle Lim
Brands & Products
Her Projects
Checkmate, The Way Back Down, Mom Cult, American Quilt Contest
Films
Holland (2025)
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
The Migrant
Places & Institutions
MAKE IT
Mastering Film Marketing (e-book)
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. #MAKEIT
www.themakeitpodcast.store/shop/support
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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy1h 54m - Oct 2, 2026 - SUMMARIES - Keith McDaniel - How he made "The Clinton 12," Cast James Earl Jones, and Why Local Beats Bigger
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. #MAKEIT
Subscribe: https://themakeitpodcast.store/shop/support
Hello, Hello!
In this episode, AI Hosts Alex Ivey and Allison Inverness examine Keith McDaniel’s path from singer, designer, and scriptwriter to documentary filmmaker and community leader. They explore how he learned filmmaking without formal training, documented complex Tennessee history, and built a sustainable local film festival. The conversation also connects creative independence with health, discipline, and the possibility that starting late can mean starting prepared.
We also talk about:
- How a poor first documentary can still reveal the right creative medium.
- Why interviewing original Oakridgers preserved primary historical testimony.
- How James Earl Jones added credibility and distribution power to The Clinton 12.
- Why Keith treated 40 film festivals as research laboratories rather than applause tours.
- How the seven-day shootout created audience ownership through participation.
People, Places, Products, and References Mentioned:
Keith McDaniel (also IMDb)
Films & Projects
Secret City: The Oak Ridge Story
The Belmont Reasons
Companies & Organizations
Secret City Films
Places
History & Concepts
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy21m - Sep 29, 2026 - 446 - Isabel Hagen on Making 'On a String', Winning Tribeca, Cancel Culture, and Surviving Stand‑Up
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/makeit
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.com
Hello, Hello!
In this episode, Isabel Hagen joins us to discuss her work as a comedian, filmmaker, and classically trained violist. She explains how her freelance music career inspired the feature film On a String, which premiered at Tribeca and won Best Screenplay in the U.S. Narrative Competition. The conversation also explores comedy in the age of clips, creative persistence, protecting real people in fiction, film criticism, artistic identity, and what it means to make it.
We also talk about:
- Turning experiences from weddings, funerals, and private music gigs into heightened comedic characters and situations.
- Why live comedy benefits from audiences putting their phones away while performers test unfinished material.
- Isabel’s process for becoming a stronger comedian through open mics, recordings, repeated performance, and daily review.
- The creative lessons she draws from Paul Thomas Anderson, including the scale of One Battle After Another and the score of Phantom Thread.
- How nostalgia, streaming overload, and the paradox of choice influence how audiences rewatch their favorite movies.
People, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned:
People
Isabel Hagen (isabelhagen.com)
Films & TV
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Companies & Organizations
Music
Food & Places
MAKE IT
Mastering Film Marketing (e-book)
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. #MAKEIT
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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy1h 34m - Sep 18, 2026 - Film Brief - Who Is Stan Smith? - The Man Behind the Three Stripes
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 reviews Who Is Stan Smith?, Danny Lee’s documentary about the tennis champion whose name became attached to one of the world’s most recognizable sneakers. The film moves from athletic achievement and fashion history to Stan Smith’s friendship with Arthur Ashe, humanitarian work, and commitment to players’ rights. The conversation ultimately asks what kind of signature each person leaves behind when fame and branding are stripped away.
TAKEAWAYS:
- Smith’s rise from Southern California and USC tennis to former world number one.
- His 1971 U.S. Open victory, 1972 Wimbledon victory, five U.S. Open titles across singles and doubles, and eight championship Davis Cup teams.
- The open era of professional tennis and the movement for greater player control.
- Smith’s 1973 Wimbledon boycott after Nikola Pilic was suspended.
- The sneaker’s adoption by musicians, artists, designers, and fashion communities.
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
The Film
People
Products & Brands
Institutions & Events
University of Southern California
Ebook: "Mastering Film Marketing"
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 us, or leaving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT
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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy11m - Sep 16, 2026 - SUMMARIES - Alexis Gambis - CRISPR, Cinema, and Identity—The Human Story of Science
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. #MAKEIT
Subscribe: https://themakeitpodcast.store/shop/support
Hello, Hello!
In this episode, AI Hosts Alex Ivey and Allison Inverness dive deep into the world of filmmaker and Scientist, Alexis Gambis. He explains how a background in molecular biology can serve as a foundation for filmmaking rather than be an abandoned career. The conversation explores the Science New Wave, a movement that combines rigorous science with emotional storytelling, culture, and personal identity. It also examines CRISPR, de-extinction, creative practice, and the infrastructure needed to bring hybrid science films to audiences.
We also talk about:
- The patience and observation skills Gambis developed while studying fruit flies.
- His father’s shift from engineering to painting and the role of family history in his films.
- The resistance Gambis encountered from both biology and film communities.
- Spike Lee’s mentorship and the fruit-fly drawing displayed beside a photo of Patrick Ewing.
- The Symbiosis initiative’s one-week collaborations between scientists and filmmakers.
People, Places, Products, and References Mentioned:
Films & Projects
The Fly Room (2014)
Son of Monarchs (2020/21)
The Next Jaguar
Disposable
Institutions & Platforms
Science New Wave — Labocine
Science & Concepts
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy20m - Sep 15, 2026 - 445 - Indie Talk - The Death of Physical Media, Infoist Religion, Fall Film Festivals, AI in Education, and Reaching 300K Subscribers
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.com
Hello, Hello!
In this episode, we dive deep into the cultural and philosophical battle between physical ownership and the digital future, using Sony's elimination of physical game discs and Xbox's pro-physical media stance as a launching point for a wide-ranging conversation about what we lose when we lose the tangible things we love. We pay heartfelt tribute to recently lost icons — including Dolly Parton, Tim Curry, Peter Cullen, Hayden Panettiere, and Michael Wright — reflecting on how physical artifacts, authentic storytelling, and genuine human connection define lasting legacies. We also cover upcoming film releases, fall film festival Oscar buzz, the Nashville Film Festival, and celebrate our milestone of 300K YouTube subscribers.
We also talk about:
- The generational nostalgia crisis — what happens when the next generation's cultural touchstones are memes instead of physical media, Saturday morning cartoons, or vinyl records, and why that loss of human connection to art matters
- The University of Michigan's decision to eliminate grades in response to students using AI to complete coursework for them, and what that means for the future of education and creativity
- The Tennessee Titans' underwhelming $10,000 charity gesture for former star Chris Johnson (CJ2K), who was diagnosed with ALS, contrasted with Dolly Parton's 330-million-book donation legacy and what "real" philanthropy looks like
- The upcoming Netflix reboot of A Different World, why Kadeem Hardison's involvement gives fans hope, and what the show must get right to honor the original's legacy of hope, pride, and HBCU culture
- The "infoist" philosophy described in Yuval Noah Harari's 21 Lessons for the 21st Century and how it explains why tech companies are relentlessly pushing toward a fully digital, ownership-free world
People, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned:
Products / Software / Technology
Films / Shows / Music
Mastering Film Marketing (ebook)
Black Zombie
Digger (Tom Cruise)
Boys Don't Cry (Frank Ocean magazine) — Blonde page
21 Lessons for the 21st Century
People
Places / Events / Organizations
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. #MAKEIT
www.themakeitpodcast.store/shop/support
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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy1h 23m - Sep 4, 2026 - SUMMARIES - Jeffrey Pittle - Why Art Is Never Finished, The Secret Lost Chaka Khan Video, and How Serving the Work Builds a Lasting Creative Legacy
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. #MAKEIT
Subscribe: https://themakeitpodcast.store/shop/support
Hello, Hello!
In this episode, AI Hosts Alex Ivey and Allison Inverness dive deep into the remarkable career of Jeffrey Pittle, a senior creative director, animator, and self-described "agent of transformation" who has spent over two decades working with industry giants like Disney, Universal, Warner Bros., and Nickelodeon. Drawing from the original MAKE IT interview, they unpack the audacious, humble, and often painful journey of a creative professional who built a unicorn skill set by refusing to stay in any single lane. From knocking on a comic legend's front door as a teenager to producing an Oscar-nominated Holocaust animated short, Jeff's story is a masterclass in surviving — and thriving — in the unpredictable business of creativity.
We also talk about:
- How Jeffrey's childhood obsession with '70s Disney films, Jim Henson's Muppets, and the original Star Wars at a drive-in theater planted the seeds of his creative identity and gave him the cognitive leap to realize that making art was an actual, payable profession
- The critical balance between audacity and humility in a creative career — why having the ego to knock on a legend's door means nothing without the willingness to sit in a freezing car all night just to hold a parking spot for a film crane
- The dangers of tying your creative work to a proprietary tech platform, illustrated by the heartbreaking story of a technically stunning Chaka Khan music video that was locked away forever when the startup behind it went bankrupt
- Jeffrey's sharp critique of modern art schools, which excel at teaching technical craft but consistently fail to equip young creatives with the business skills — invoicing, taxes, pricing their time — needed to survive as professionals
- The philosophical paradox that closes the episode: if a masterpiece is created but legally sealed away from the public forever, does it still have value — or does the true worth of creativity lie entirely in how the process of making it transforms the artist?
People, Places, Products, and References Mentioned:
Jim Krupa (NY puppet company)
Films & Shows
Scrooged (1988)
Companies & Organizations
QB (vertical video startup)
Fish Eggs (Venice, CA)
Platforms & Tools
Places
Concepts & Awards
Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film
Jack of all trades, master of none
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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy23m - Sep 1, 2026 - 444 - Oscar Boyson on Directing Our Hero, Balthazar, Working with The Neistat Brothers, Empathy Machines vs. Validation Machines, and Failing in Public
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/makeit
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.com
Hello, Hello!
In this episode, Chris & Papa Bear sit down with filmmaker Oscar Boyson to discuss his directorial debut, Our Hero, Balthazar, a provocative and critically talked-about indie film that has been called the most controversial movie of the year. Oscar shares how his unconventional path — from competitive freestyle skier in Maine to Craigslist hire at the Neistat Brothers' studio — shaped him into the filmmaker he is today. The conversation spans filmmaking craft, the dangers of AI dependency, the power of perseverance over ideas, and what it truly means to get an independent film in front of audiences.
We also talk about:
- The thematic parallels between Our Hero, Balthazar, and the 1995 indie classic Kids, including how both films straddle the line between being cautionary tales for parents and romanticized adventures for younger viewers
- The growing role of AI tools like ChatGPT in everyday decision-making, and whether over-reliance on AI is creating a generation that can no longer think or fail independently — including the concept of "Gellman Amnesia" as a lens for understanding AI's credibility problem
- The social media "validation machine" phenomenon, how algorithms reinforce existing beliefs and behaviors, and what that means for youth culture, mental health, and even real-world violence
- The importance of perseverance over ideas in the creative process, drawing on Casey Neistat's famous motto — "Ideas are common, perseverance is rare" — and how Oscar applied that philosophy to his own career and filmmaking journey
- The practical and ethical considerations of using firearms and blank-firing weapons on an indie film set in the post-Rust era, including the critical role of a professional armorer and the creative reasoning behind using blanks for actor authenticity
People, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned:
People
Stephen Phelps
Jordan Gallant (composer)
Big Mike (Oscar’s father)
Elise (Oscar’s sister)
Films
Straw Dogs (1971)
TV Shows
Platforms, Websites & Tools
Places
Lower Antioch / Woodbine — Nashville neighborhoods
Products & Brands
Concepts & References
“Ideas are common, perseverance is rare” — Casey Neistat motto
“Movies are empathy machines” — Roger Ebert
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. #MAKEIT
www.themakeitpodcast.store/shop/support
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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy1h 23m - Aug 21, 2026 - Mistakes In The Making - The Creative Pivot That Made Barbie a Billion-Dollar Film
Hello, Hello!
In this episode, Kevin Goetz, Hollywood's leading audience research expert and founder of Screen Engine, shares one of his most humbling professional mistakes — advising Mattel's entertainment team to walk away from the Barbie movie project before it became a global cultural phenomenon. Kevin reflects on how he misread early research data that showed limited audience interest in a Barbie film, and how a visionary filmmaker, a bold creative pivot, and a brilliant marketing strategy transformed a seemingly doomed IP into one of the highest-grossing films in history. This conversation is a masterclass in intellectual humility, the limits of data, and the power of creative conviction.
We also talk about:
- How Kevin's proprietary "capability testing technique" works — measuring awareness, interest, intensity, and format preference — and why even well-executed research has its limits when creative transformation hasn't yet occurred
- The behind-the-scenes story of how Greta Gerwig pitched her vision for Barbie in a New York brownstone, describing the film as existing "somewhere between a stiletto and a Birkenstock," and how that single creative framing changed everything
- Why two previous Barbie film attempts — one with Anne Hathaway and one with Amy Schumer — never made it to production, and what pattern Kevin saw that made him skeptical a third attempt would succeed
- How Barbie's marketing team turned the color pink into a full visual language and cultural movement, driving audiences to theaters dressed in Pepto-Bismol pink and making the film a genuine zeitgeist moment
- How this pivotal mistake reshaped Kevin's approach to advising clients, leading him to offer a new kind of hope to filmmakers and studios working with IP or projects that appear to have limited audience potential on paper
People, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned:
People
Companies & Organizations
Films & Franchises
Books
Podcasts
Mattel IP Referenced
Websites & Social Media
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. #MAKEIT
All Links: https://themakeitpodcast.store
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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy14m - Aug 19, 2026 - SUMMARIES - Nathaniel Nuon's Unconventional Philosophy on Filmmaking Tech (The Uber Analogy and the Viagra Principle)
Hello, Hello!
In this episode, AI Hosts Alex Ivey and Allison Inverness dive deep into the extraordinary life and career of Nathaniel Nuon, a Cambodian refugee-turned Emmy-winning filmmaker who transformed personal and financial limitations into groundbreaking creative work. They explore how a childhood spent watching a broken, silent television set trained Nathaniel's brain to become a master storyteller, and how that same constraint-driven mindset led him to make an Emmy-winning short film about one of history's most overlooked genocides. From designing a feature film specifically for visually impaired audiences to using a cheap VR gaming puck to replicate Hollywood-grade camera tracking, Nathaniel's story is a masterclass in turning obstacles into innovation.
We also talk about:
- How Nathaniel's Cambodian refugee background and his family's adoption of American names shaped his identity and creative drive
- The psychological science behind why cognitive constraints — like missing audio — can actually hardwire the brain to become a more powerful problem-solving storyteller
- The concept of inclusive design in filmmaking and how designing for marginalized audiences (such as the visually impaired) can unintentionally produce a richer, more atmospheric experience for all audiences
- The culture and output of Full Sail University as a 24/7 creative incubator, and how its high-pressure environment produced 140 graduates who worked on Oscar-nominated films in a single year
- A forward-looking philosophical question about the future of filmmaking: as AI, LED walls, and game engines make visual perfection cheap and ubiquitous, will audiences eventually crave the imperfection of practical, physical effects just to feel something authentically human?
People, Places, Products, and References Mentioned:
People
Films & Projects
Shows Referenced
Organizations & Companies
Nuon Films
3rd Realm Creations
Technology & Products
LED walls / virtual production
Historical Events & Concepts
*This was actually a US Air Force operation, not a CIA operation — Strategic Air Command B-52 strikes authorized by Nixon and Kissinger (1969–70), kept secret from Congress. The CIA did run separate covert programs in Cambodia, including training Cambodian irregulars, which is the premise Residue actually dramatizes.
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. #MAKEIT
Subscribe: https://themakeitpodcast.store/shop/support
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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy20m - Aug 18, 2026 - 443 - X-Men ’97 Cast - Rogue, Morph & Nightcrawler Walk Into a Podcast: The Voice Acting Craft Behind X-Men '97
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/makeit
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.com
Hello, Hello!
In this episode, we sit down with three legendary voice actors from the animated series X-Men '97 — Lenore Zann (Rogue), JP Karliak (Morph), and Adrian Hough (Nightcrawler) — to discuss Season 2 of the hit Disney+ show, the craft of voice acting, and the personal journeys that have shaped each of their careers. The trio shares candid reflections on preserving character continuity across decades, the challenges facing working voice actors in an AI-driven industry, and how their art intersects with social justice, environmental advocacy, and political engagement. From cheat day meals to what it truly means to "MAKE IT," this conversation is as heartfelt as it is illuminating.
We also talk about:
- The origins of Rogue's iconic catchphrase "sugar" and how it became part of Lenore Zann's everyday speech, blurring the line between character and performer
- The nostalgia for the 1990s circulating on social media, and why JP Karliak believes humans were never biologically designed to process the volume of information we consume today via the internet
- The very real threat of AI voice cloning in the animation industry, including Adrian Hough's discovery of unauthorized voice copies of his characters Nightcrawler and Haytham Kenway, and what that means for workhorse voice actors
- The role the COVID-19 pandemic played in reviving interest in X-Men: The Animated Series on Disney+, and how that surge in viewership likely led directly to the creation of X-Men '97
- Each guest's deep personal commitment to causes beyond entertainment, including environmental advocacy for old-growth forests (Adrian), LGBTQIA+ voice actor support and nonpartisan voter engagement (JP), and social/political justice work rooted in Lenore's 12-year career as a Canadian politician
People, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned:
The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith
The Aussie Six
People
Anthony Hopkins / Hannibal Lecter
Neil Gaiman / The Graveyard Book
David Letterman / Jennifer Aniston
Characters
Organizations, Tools & Books
Places
Social Media
@LenoreZann (Instagram) / @ZannLenore (X)
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. #MAKEIT
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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy1h 12m - Aug 12, 2026 - 442 - Illuminai Studios Founder Jesse Weglein on Being Laid Off at Pixar, Why AI Is the Brush, Not the Artist, and Animation's Next Frontier
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Hello, 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 instead
- The 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 vision
- The 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 jobs
- The 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 content
- The 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 entirely
People, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned:
People
Films & Shows
Shine (Illuminai Studios)
Metropolis (1927)
Companies & Organizations
Industrial Light & Magic (ILM)
Software & Technology
Presto (Pixar's proprietary tool)
Websites & Social Media
Books & Products
Mastering Film Marketing (ebook)
Places
Lucas Building/Steve Jobs Building
Dartmouth College / Dartmouth workshop, 1956
Other References
WHALE 52 — Suite For Man, Boy, And Whale
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. #MAKEIT
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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy1h 46m - Aug 7, 2026 - SUMMARIES - Actress Christine Woods - How to Walk Into Any Audition Room and Completely Flip the Power Dynamic in Your Favor
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 spectacle
- Why 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 training
- How 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 critic
- The 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 system
- Christine'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 gatekeepers
People, Places, Products, and References Mentioned:
People
Christine Woods (actress)
Sterling Woods (Christine's grandfather)
Eric Emery (Christine's first LA manager)
Shows, Films & Projects
Finding the Asshole — experimental comedy short
Schools & Programs
Social Media
@TrickyBear (Christine Woods' Instagram)
Bands / Artists
Places
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. #MAKEIT
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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy21m - Aug 4, 2026 - 441 - How YouTube Lore Is Rewriting the Hollywood Playbook, Why George Lucas Is Right, and the New Rules of the Box Office (Your Father's IP Is Dead) - Indie Talk
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
Hello, 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 leadership
- The 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 replicate
- The 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 cinema
- The 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 Wars
- The 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 infallible
People, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned:
People
Tom McCullough (PB's childhood friend)
Films & Documentaries
Everything Everywhere All at Once
Fatliners (NSFW)
Companies & Organizations
Oddfellows Pictures — THR profile
Music
Places
Websites & Platforms
Products & Miscellaneous
Callwood Family Distillery (Caribbean)
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. #MAKEIT
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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy1h 57m - Jul 24, 2026 - SUMMARIES - Caroline Locorriere - Camera Appropriateness, Script Architecture, and the Three Pillars of Craft
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 representation
- The 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 married
- The 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 screen
- The 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 Netflix
- The 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 teaching
People, Places, Products, and References Mentioned:
People
Missy (Caroline's mother)
Martha (Episcopalian aura reader)
Shows / Films
Institutions / Places
Platforms
Concepts / Methods
"The three pillars of acting craft" — Caroline's framework
"Camera appropriateness"
Active listening/listening labs
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. #MAKEIT
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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy20m - Jul 21, 2026 - 440 - Nick (Goes Solo) on What Matt Damon and Oscar Boyson Can Teach Us About Making It
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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
Hello, 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 belonging
- Nick'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 identity
- Gen 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 movies
- Why 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 seats
- Matt 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 Podcast
People, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned:
People
Films & TV
Festivals & Events
Platforms & Social Media
Research & Studies
Organizations
Water.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. #MAKEIT
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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy42m - Jul 10, 2026 - Film Brief - Toy Story 5 - Andrew Stanton's Return: Why Pixar's Boldest Creative Bet Is a Story About Growing Up
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 vision
- The symbolic role of the Lily Pad tablet as a representation of digital culture's competition with imaginative play, rather than a traditional villain
- The 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 — special
- Jessie's expanded emotional arc as she steps into the center of the story, discovering that leadership is about becoming who others need you to be
- The 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 isolation
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Films / Projects
People
Characters
Technology / Products (Fictional)
Lilypad (the tablet, voiced by Greta Lee)
Organizations / Brands
Ebook: "Mastering Film Marketing"
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 us, or leaving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT
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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy9m - Jul 8, 2026
