IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit
Interviews with leading film and TV creators about their process and craft. From screenwriting to film language to cinematography, we'll be examining the innovative ways today's best filmmakers are getting their visions out into the world.
Episodes
September 6, 2025 • 40 mins
On this week’s IndieWire’s Filmmakers Toolkit, Chris O’Falt talks with writer-director Andrew DeYoung about his dark comedy Friendship—now streaming on HBO Max. He reveals how he shaped Tim Robinson’s offbeat energy, uncovered a vulnerable side of Paul Rudd, and crafted a breakup story that’s as funny as it is unsettling—proving comedy hits harder when rooted in truth.
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August 28, 2025 • 37 mins
Mario Van Peebles joins IndieWire’s Jim Hemphill for a live version of Filmmaker Toolkit to talk about his directorial debut, “New Jack City.” In a conversation that followed a 35mm screening of the 1991 gangster classic, Van Peebles discusses casting the film, finding its visual language, and the influence of his father Melvin Van Peebles on his approach.
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August 25, 2025 • 47 mins
Director Josh Greenbaum took IndieWire behind the scenes of the planning, shooting, and editing of his Emmy nominated documentary.
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August 21, 2025 • 42 mins
Emmy-winning director Jon Cassar joins IndieWire features writer Jim Hemphill for a special episode on Jon’s 31 rules for television directors. These are things he’s learned over the course of 30-plus years and over 200 episodes of TV that range from the technical to the political — all of them vital to sustaining a career.
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August 19, 2025 • 36 mins
"Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)" is a documentary that knows to tell the story of Sly Stone's life and music, you need exceptional craft and storytelling discipline. From depicting music with experimental visuals, to convincing some of music's biggest names to talk on camera, listen to these two filmmakers, musicians, and friends explain how the story was told mattered as much as what they included.
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August 15, 2025 • 34 mins
Brennan Lee Mulligan, executive producer and GM of "Dimension 20," offers IndieWire a peak inside the dimensional dome and discusses how cinematic tools, from editing and art design to sound effects and physical props, can help enhance Actual Play storytelling.
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August 13, 2025 • 40 mins
This episode is a real treat for animation fans, a deep dive into the art and process with the beloved creator of Samurai Jack, Dexter's Lab, Primal, and now the new Netflix movie Fixed. Genndy explained why he fought for 2D animation to keep the dogs less gross, walks us through his process with voice actors, and reveals how Fixed was almost the latest Warner Bros. movie shelved for a tax break. PLUS fans of Primal should stick ar...
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August 12, 2025 • 42 mins
Legendary TV creator R. Scott Gemmill joins the Toolkit to breakdown one of this years biggest shows: 'The Pitt.' Gemmill lifts the curtain on the show's medical accuracy, revealing how doctors consulted from script to set to screen. We think you'll enjoy hearing this master of television discussing what it took to launch yet another hit.
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August 8, 2025 • 48 mins
Paul Rubens, the man who created and became Pee-Wee Herman, has eluded a documentary about his life for a long time. While Matt Wolf was finally able to make a film exploring this complicated artist, it came at a price. Listen to Matt recount his artistic battle with Rubens as they shot the doc, and the shocking personal details he uncovered that bound them together. You have to hear this one to believe it!
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August 4, 2025 • 37 mins
First time director Michael Shanks joined us on Toolkit for a fascinating discussion about the crazy intimacy of directing a real life couple, his roots as an Aussie kid binging After Effects tutorials, and why his particular brand of body horror needed to be very dry.
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August 1, 2025 • 36 mins
As one of the writers behind Lonely Island, and the director of hits like 'Popstar and 'Hot Rod', director Akiva Schaffer was a brilliant choice to helm a revival of one of cinema's most iconic comedy franchises. We dig into the craft behind the comedy, from casting serious actors to going for broke on a particular snowman sequence.
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July 29, 2025 • 36 mins
On Toolkit we want to explore the challenges facing filmmakers today, and a growing concern is A.I. But we find for all the promises and fears of what A.I.will do, there are few conversations about what A.I. is actually able to do right now. Writer and director Scott Z. Burns has the perfect case study for us: trying to write a sequel to his and Steven Soderbergh's 'Contagion' using A.I. screenwriters and film critics.
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July 25, 2025 • 55 mins
Kenneth Lonergan, one of our host's favorite filmmakers, joins Toolkit to reflect on his first film as a director, 'You Can Count On Me.' He walks us through his transition from writer to the director's chair, and shares stories of working with Mark Ruffalo and Laura Linney on the film that would be their Sundance breakthrough.
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July 21, 2025 • 32 mins
Jennifer Kaytin Robinson joins IndieWire features writer Jim Hemphill to talk about rebooting the 1997 slasher classic. Robinson discusses integrating the original cast members into the story (warning: spoilers!), balancing horror and comedy, and the influence of Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” on her summer thriller.
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July 18, 2025 • 38 mins
Ari Aster returns to the toolkit for the fourth time with his fourth film, a paranoid social thriller about the summer of 2020 told in a way only this filmmaker can. Ari explores the origins of the film's politics, how he made a western so modern the guns are phones, and unpacks the incredible final act.
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July 17, 2025 • 36 mins
Toolkit is taking an ongoing look into the current state of independent filmmaking, and today we have some rare good news to report; indie collectives are on the rise! Two of the filmmakers behind Omnes, which produced this year's 'Eephus' and the new release 'No Sleep Till' join us to discuss how these artists share the burdens of indie filmmaking from financing through production and release.
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July 10, 2025 • 100 mins
One of our favorite insights into David Lynch's filmmaking comes from Dean Hurley, Lynch's all around sound guy and one of the master's closest collaborators for decades. Hurley reveals that to create one of a kind art, one must have a one of a kind creative process. Listen to our deep dive into Lynch's approach to sound, his process itself was a piece of art.
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July 3, 2025 • 30 mins
Director Rob Reiner returns to Filmmaker Toolkit to talk with IndieWire features writer Jim Hemphill about “This is Spinal Tap.” Released in 1984 to widespread acclaim, Reiner’s debut feature created a new form of comedy that inspired countless hours of “mockumentary” TV episodes and films in the decades to follow. On the occasion of the film’s theatrical re-release in a new 4K restoration, Reiner reflects on its making and the cha...
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July 2, 2025 • 37 mins
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July 1, 2025 • 30 mins
The writer, director, and star of the Sundance hit and new A24 release joins IndieWire's Chris O'Falt to break down their directorial debut. Eva was forthright about the challenges of learning how to direct (including a graduate level film class of sorts supervised by Barry Jenkins) and also explored how she balanced a gentle tonal approach to a tough subject.
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