Just Shoot It: A Podcast about Filmmaking, Screenwriting and Directing

Natasha Kermani talks about casting Sophie Turner in her latest film “The Dreadful” https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30842022/ and it’s amazing how she connected with Sophie and demonstrated why this project was a great fit for her trajectory as an actor.

But when Matt and Oren dig into the details of the one thing Natasha said in her letter that sealed the deal, they get a big surprise.

This is a great episode that explores Nata...

Chuck Kinnane joins directly from Little Compton, Rhode Island. And he comes out straight on sharing the credit and pay from their latest feature, “Solo Mio”, starring Kevin James.

The Kinnane brothers have been living the dream as filmmakers. And they’re proof that years of work with YouTube videos, closed caption documentaries, and just making shorts, writing scripts and pitching ideas, can and does pay off, even today.

It’s the st...

Producer Jonathan Burns https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanaburns talks about his methods for selecting the vibe that he presents to brands and agencies. And the different considerations that drive his every choice from kraft, to restaurants, crew decisions, and more.

Matt and Oren have worked with Jonathan on multiple occasions. And they talk about what separates a production manager who’s graduated “in title” to producer, fro...

How important is Sundance to your career as a commercial director? Matt and Oren talk about their experiences in Park City before the festival wraps up its last year in Utah.  

With Matt working to raise money for his latest film, “Bad Feeling”, there’s a lively discussion about whether making narrative films can advance your career as a commercial director. And the answer is, for some directors, it can make yo...

When Sergio Cilli https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1826186/ made his first AI film, it really didn’t get noticed. And neither did many others he made. Sure they were good. But what got noticed more was the one video he made, which showed why AI isn’t quite and why it’s not yet the monster filmmakers fear.

Sergio joins Kristyna Archer https://www.archer.vision/ to talk about making AI films. What works, what doesn’t, and how filmmake...

Eric Crepeau https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4145859 joins Matt and Oren after a gap of over 400 episodes to talk about sound design! What makes a good sound designer? And what makes a great sound designer? 

Eric is the OG Editor of "Just Shoot It!" and he's brought along a reel of outtakes that he's kept over the years! And he's dying to talk about 10 useful words when talking to sound designer.

And to kick it off Matt and ...

Matt and Oren are pulling together their year-end recap posts for social media. And they realize, “wow, there's a lot to reflect upon!”

LA is definitely enjoying a resurgence, of sorts. And while more productions are shooting in LA, a lot has changed over the past few years. And everything isn’t rosy.

So if you’re wondering what’s the right type of year-end social media recap, or what you should post that will win over t...

The 2025 year-end Director's Panel is here! Each year, Matt and Oren have a little cocktail party with some of the past year's guests. It's a chance to reconnect and chat about what went well, what didn't, and what they're hopeful for in the coming year.

Carlyn Hudson, Jamaal Parham, and Mercedes Bryce Morgan participate in this first-ever, on-camera, live-to-tape panel. And if you've got questions about the impact of AI on Holl...

Bella Gonzales https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7543234/ brings a ton of insight about being a cinematographer on series like Pen 15, Fargo, Alien: Earth, and The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox.

It’s a really inspiring episode that made Oren want to pick up a camera and operate again. On the other hand, Bella is a self-described lighting-focused DP (Director of Photography). And her conversation with Matt and Oren details how her approa...

Tony Yacenda https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2829241/ , the director from "Chad Powers", "Dave", "American Vandal", and a ton of commercials, joins Oren and Matt. And in this episode, Tony gives us a look into how he jumped like four levels to get his first big break on American Vandal.

Then Matt and Oren get Tony to share what it means to rebalance how you think about your role and what makes you an effective team player. Why?...

Commercial director NEDA joins Matt and Oren in their first-ever interview from Eastern Europe! NEDA talks about how she gets unique shots, even when working with kids. She shares how she balances freestyle with agency needs and discovers techniques to capture real moments where the kids are being real, and not pretending or acting.

Then Matt and Oren get her to explore what type of director can pull off a one-name brand, like N...

Simon Cellan Jones https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0148116 shares the story of his rise from the mailroom at BBC to become a director on "The Diplomat", "See", "Ballers", and "The Expanse".

Then Matt and Oren get Simon to share some tips for working with star talent, like Mark Wahlberg, on his latest film "Family Plan 2". What's the difference between how Mark comes to set compared to Jason Momoa? And what are the factors that go in...

Ben Semanoff https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1032608/ shares how he made the break from camera operator to director. Lots of people want to do the same and you might be one of them. So you'll want to hear Ben tell you the one simple question too many people forget to ask. 

Matt and Oren also get Ben to open up about what makes a camera operator stand out. And the three talk about how Ben found himself in the unique po...

Jonah Feingold https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3783212/ talks about connecting with your parasocial audience to create the films you want to make. And he shares why he got in front of the camera in his latest film, "31 Candles."

Matt and Oren get Jonah to talk about filming in New York and how a living city creates one-off opportunities that plus your scene. And the three chat about product placement and the real benefit f...

Will Bridges https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2782297/ shares his method for making every meeting an opportunity. And he explains what he did that let him come from 10 years of working random jobs and trying to make shorts here and there, to becoming the newly discovered talent, suddenly writing for hit series like “Black Mirror” and “Stranger Things” as well as being a co-creator with Charlie Brooker.

Matt and Oren get Will to open ...

Matt and Oren celebrate 500 episodes! That's basically one episode per week without dropping a beat, not even on Thanksgivings, since 2015.

And while it's true "Just Shoot It" has changed a lot over the years. So too has the film & TV industry. It all started with a focus on auteur filmmaking. But the podcast took a definite shift towards commercial directing over the years.

And while both Matt and Oren have successf...

Seth Worley https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2124394/ made money selling tools for filmmakers. And Matt and Oren get him to talk about ways filmmakers can make side-income today. Can filmmakers make money selling plug-ins and stock footage? And if so, how?

But why make side-income as a filmmaker or working commercial director? Simply put: AI. And the guys get into a broader discussion how AI will change video and the impact AI will h...

How do you define your voice as a director? John-Michael Powell https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3119508/ talks about his new film "Violent Ends" https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6902560 and the career journey that brought it to theaters.

When the entire faculty of his art college told him to give up on becoming an artist, John-Michael moved to Los Angeles. He landed his first job at Bunim-Murray Productions, spending nights watchin...

Maya ‘Mayachka’ Margolina https://mayachka.com/ talks about her work with luxury brands like Coach, Rihanna's Fenty, Mercedes Benz, and MCM and how she craft treatments that get her work. And she reveals her own struggle to avoid being derivative while acknowledging that everything is derivative, at least somehow. 

In this episode, Oren and Matt unpack how Maya's unique cinematic form gets audiences to perceive brands in wa...