"Shaun Paul Piccinino on Filmmaking, Netflix Hits & The Secret to 250M Hours Watched"
Filmmaker Shaun Paul Piccinino joins us for an exclusive conversation on his career, from early Hollywood days to directing Netflix’s A California Christmas and City Lights.
He dives into the impact of the SAG-AFTRA strikes, the role of AI in filmmaking, and the key elements of strong movie structure and planning.
Shaun shares behind-the-scenes stories, including working with Amanda Detmer, the risks and rewards of filmmaking, and the “secret sauce” behind 250 million hours of viewership.
He also discusses team building in filmmaking, the realities of “overnight success,” and advice for aspiring directors.
Plus, a fun rapid-fire round and insights into Josh and Lauren’s on-screen & off-screen chemistry. A must-listen for filmmakers, screenwriters, and cinephiles!
Time Stamps
00:00 Coming Up02:06 Shaun’s 2025 Projects04:17 SAG AFTRA STRIKES & AI09:53 Movie Structure and Planning 16:25 The Big Call : Risk and Reward 18:38 Amanda Detmer & Eureka Moment 22:31 Mentor - Early Hollywood Days and Grind 30:43 Overnight Success is Real ?33:09 250 Million Hours Secret Sauce 39:35 Off Track California Christmas 42:29 Josh and Lauren’s Romance 43:21 ‘A California Christmas’ Making 52:53 Life After ‘A California Christmas’ and ‘Citylights’54:12 Josh and Lauren's Off Screen Chemistry 57:32 Rapid Fire 62:11 Team Building in Filmmaking 66:05 Advice for Film Directors67:59 Last Notes
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