The No Film School Podcast

The No Film School Podcast

A podcast about how to build a career in filmmaking. No Film School shares the latest opportunities and trends for anyone working in film and TV. We break news on cameras, lighting, and apps. We interview leaders in screenwriting, directing, cinematography, editing, and producing. And we answer your questions! We are dedicated to sharing knowledge with filmmakers around the globe, “no film school” required.

Episodes

September 11, 2025 47 mins
In this episode, GG Hawkins is joined by Shelby Schultz, Director of Programming at LOOK Cinemas. Shelby shares her insights into the complex and often misunderstood world of theatrical exhibition, from how she discovers films to what drives the decision-making process behind booking movies in theaters. Drawing from her extensive background in distribution, financing, and development, Shelby explains how indie filmmakers can better...
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In this episode, GG Hawkins speaks with writer-director-producer Nora Fiffer about her debut feature Another Happy Day, and how she achieved a rare feat in indie filmmaking: shooting on strict eight‑hour days while providing on‑set childcare. The two explore how this family-friendly approach—driven by Fiffer's own journey into motherhood—shaped every stage of production, from scheduling and budgeting to set morale and creative deci...
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In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, GG Hawkins sits down with filmmaker Macon Blair to discuss his journey from scrappy DIY filmmaking in Virginia to directing the 2025 reimagining of the cult classic The Toxic Avenger. The film hits theaters today, and Blair shares how he balanced homage and originality, kept the humor grounded in absurdity, and tackled the long production process. He also reflects on his start in the i...
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No Film School delves into the high-pressure, fast-paced world of sketch comedy editing on Saturday Night Live's historic 50th Anniversary special. The episode features returning guest Ryan Spears—four-time Emmy nominee and Film Unit editor at SNL—joined by longtime collaborators Daniel Garcia and Paul Del Gesso. Together, they share insider stories on crafting memorable montages, rediscovering archival gems, navigating the evoluti...
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In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, GG Hawkins sits down with Oscar-winning editor Paul Rogers, best known for his work on Everything Everywhere All at Once. Paul opens up about his journey from Alabama to Hollywood, founding the post-production company Parallax, and how personal experiences—like fatherhood and burnout—reshaped his approach to creativity and work. The conversation dives deep into balancing artistic passi...
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This episode of the No Film School Podcast welcomes back Charles Haine, who hosts a compelling conversation with filmmaker Aditya Kripalani and lead actors Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Chitrangada Satarupa. The group discusses their latest film I'm Not an Actor, a cross-continental drama that was shot simultaneously in Mumbai and Frankfurt, using FaceTime as a primary storytelling and production tool. The film follows a virtual connecti...
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In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, GG Hawkins sits down with powerhouse writing and showrunning duo Nick Stoller and Francesca Delbanco. The married couple behind hit shows like Friends from College and Platonic discuss the nuances of building a creative career, collaborating with your spouse, and navigating the demands of leading a TV series. They reflect on how their individual writing journeys led them to a shared pa...
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In this special episode of the No Film School Podcast, GG Hawkins sits down with filmmaker duo Talia Shea Levin and Kara Grace Miller to discuss the journey behind their short film Make Me a Pizza—a provocative, hilarious, and genre-blurring short that’s become a viral sensation. Fresh off a big win at the Fantasia Festival’s Frontières 'Short to Feature' competition, Levin and Miller open up about their pitch experience, the creat...
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In this episode, GG Hawkins and Jason Hellerman sit down with filmmaker and producer Matthew Scheffler, whose unique path through the industry includes five seasons field producing for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and producing shows like Random Acts of Flyness and Black Twitter: A People's History. Matthew shares his journey from faking his way into the industry to directing his own Victorian horror short The Traveler, while...
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This episode of the No Film School Podcast features GG Hawkins in conversation with writer-director Sophie Brooks, whose new film Oh, Hi! hits theaters nationwide on July 25, 2025. The film, starring Molly Gordon and Logan Lerman, explores the chaotic, vulnerable, and often hilariously painful world of romantic relationships. Sophie shares her journey of getting from her debut feature The Boy Downstairs to Oh, Hi!, a second feature...
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In this episode, GG Hawkins and Jason Hellerman dig into the behind-the-scenes business of micro-budget filmmaking. They tackle a fan-submitted Ask No Film School question about run-and-gun filmmaking risks, E&O insurance, and securing distribution when shooting without proper permits. Then, GG interviews writer/director Anna Baumgarten and producer Danny Mooney, the creative duo behind the indie feature Disfluency, a powerful micr...
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John Hamburg joins GG Hawkins to discuss crafting iconic, rewatchable comedies—from cult hits like Safe Men to mainstream favorites such as Meet the Parents, Zoolander, I Love You, Man, and the upcoming new Meet the Parents installment. Hamburg shares his creative journey, balancing absurd premises with emotional truth, breaking into the industry, and directing the finale of Apple TV’s Stick. He also dives into working with comedic...
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In this episode, GG Hawkins sits down with director Steven Feinartz and editor Derek Boonstra, two members of the team behind 'Are We Good?', an intimate documentary following comedian Marc Maron as he navigates grief, healing, and finding humor in the darkest moments. Together, they share how the project came to life, how they came together, the challenges of balancing comedy and vulnerability, and the ethical and emotional comple...
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In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, GG Hawkins presents two riveting conversations that push boundaries and challenge cultural taboos. First, she interviews Michael Taylor Jackson, writer, director, and star of the radically inventive film Orange Underground (Bajo Naranja), a satirical, punk-infused narrative born out of the Argentine quarantine. Then, she speaks with Kate Downey, creator and host of the podcast CRAMPED,...
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In this episode, GG Hawkins sits down with Emmy and ACE Eddie-nominated editor Isaac Hagy, whose emotionally charged and visually inventive work includes Waves, Atlanta, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and The Friend. Known for his moody and immersive editing style, Hagy shares how he found his voice as an editor, the unconventional path that led him to Atlanta, and the creative and technical strategies that shape his work. He also dives into ...
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June 27, 2025 46 mins
In this episode, GG Hawkins sits down with Derick Rhodes, VP of Community at Vimeo, to dive into how Vimeo continues to be a crucial hub for independent filmmakers. Derick reveals the behind-the-scenes process of how Vimeo Staff Picks are curated, the platform’s renewed focus on supporting creators, and the company’s evolving role in global film culture. From new streaming options to global partnerships and grassroots community sup...
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In this episode, GG Hawkins speaks with writer-director Alessandra Lacorazza about her award-winning film In the Summers, which took home both the U.S. Grand Jury Prize and Best Director at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Lacorazza shares the deeply personal roots of the film, the tumultuous road to production, and the pressures of staying true to a creative vision in the face of industry challenges. The conversation dives into ca...
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This week on the No Film School Podcast, GG Hawkins sits down with Pete Docter, Chief Creative Officer at Pixar Animation Studios and the visionary behind films like Monsters, Inc., Up, Inside Out, and Soul. The conversation dives deep into the creative process behind Pixar’s latest original feature Elio, and how Pixar’s iterative storytelling model has evolved over the years. Pete shares actionable insights on how filmmakers—wheth...
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Filmmakers Peter Hall and Paul Gandersman join No Film School's GG Hawkins to discuss their chilling feature debut Man Finds Tape, premiering in the “Escape from Tribeca” section at the 2025 Tribeca Festival. The Texas-based writer-director duo explores their found-footage horror hybrid, rooted in documentary realism and intimate character drama. They dive deep into the film’s decade-long evolution, DIY production tactics, narrativ...
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In this episode, GG Hawkins is joined by writer-director duo (and real-life couple) David Joseph Craig and Brian Crano to discuss their new film I Don’t Understand You, a genre-bending dark comedy starring Nick Kroll and Andrew Rannells. The film follows a couple on a babymoon in Italy that spirals into chaos and violence. Craig and Crano share their process of fictionalizing their own adoption journey, balancing collaboration as m...
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