Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie Filmmaking
Liz Manashil and Alrik Bursell discuss independent filmmaking, everything from writing, producing and directing to working as crew. But this is not just a podcast about "making it," it's also about struggling with rejection, self-doubt and everything else that comes with pursuing a career in film. Follow along as we forge our own way through the industry and talk to guests who are also making it happen. Episodes 238-299 are available at our patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Episodes
February 9, 2026 • 61 mins
This week we welcome director, writer and producer duo Keith Gerchack and Marisa Guterman to talk about the journey to making their first feature Lost and Found in Cleveland and how they went from actors to filmmakers throughout the 12 year process of making the film. After that we play another round of the GAME, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! http...
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February 7, 2026 • 51 mins
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 416 from March 2023 featuring producer, writer and director Dawn Jones Redstone who talked about making her first feature Mother of Color. I thought this was a good match for our episode with Jesse Kuba from Monday because they both talk about pulling their features together on small budgets and both wore multiple hats in making their films. After that w...
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February 2, 2026 • 58 mins
This week we welcome writer/director/editor Jesse Kuba on the show to talk about making his first feature film The Moon is in Aquarius and how he pulled it off on a small budget. After that we play another round of The Game and talk about the current statuses of our projects, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m...
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January 29, 2026 • 79 mins
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 105 from June 2017 featuring a series of listener call in questions. Alrik thought this was a good match for our episode with Cory from Monday because Cory was probably listening to the show back then and while he didn’t call in with a question, this is an opportunity for us to hear from some other past listeners of the show. After that we play another ...
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January 26, 2026 • 70 mins
This week we welcome director, writer, main actor, editor, and only producer on his first feature Mild Life, Cory Thibert on the show to talk about how he approached creating a very personal first feature! Cory also has been a long time listener, way back since the Timothy days, so glad to have him on the show! After that we play another round of the GAME, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodca...
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January 23, 2026 • 72 mins
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the conversation from episode 171 from August 2018 featuring a conversation that my old co-host Timothy and I had about directing experience and if there is good and bad directing experience. I thought this was a good one for David Zeigers episode because this conversation might get lost to time, which is what almost happen to David’s episode, and I’m really glad we got it out i...
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January 19, 2026 • 68 mins
This week we welcome producer/filmmaker David Zeiger on the show to talk about filmmaking in an episode we recorded in December 2020 and we are finally releasing it today in 2026. After that Liz and Eric talk play a round of the Game and talk about their projects, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movie...
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January 15, 2026 • 52 mins
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 433 from July 2023 featuring producer, editor and filmmaker Jhennifer Webberley. Alrik thought Jhennifer was a good match for our episode with Robert from Monday because they both wear so many hats and continue to make movies and provide for themselves through their filmmaking. After that we play another round of You’re the expert, enjoy!
Don’t forget...
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January 12, 2026 • 66 mins
This week we welcome producer/director/actor Robert Enriquez on the show to talk about his career making movies including his latest feature, Stone Creek Killer. After that Liz and I talk about what it means to be an independent artist, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard-the-struggles-of-indi...
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January 8, 2026 • 112 mins
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 191 from January 2019 featuring animator and animated filmmaker Andrew Chesworth, who talked about working at Disney and making his latest short film. I thought this was a good match for our episode with Miguel Rodrick from Monday because they are both animated filmmakers, working on very different spectrums of filmmaking. After that we play another rou...
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January 5, 2026 • 69 mins
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January 1, 2026 • 34 mins
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 403 from December 2022 featuring producer/director Janeen Damian who talks about making her first feature Falling for Christmas after producing multiple features! ALrik thought Janeen was a good match for our episode with Frank from Monday because they are both producers turned directors and plus it’s holiday season, and she talks about making a Christma...
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December 29, 2025 • 72 mins
This week we welcome writer/director/producer Frank Merle on the show to talk about his latest film Namaka and how he juggles producing movies and directing his own. After that we play another round of THE GAME and Alrik reads a listener email on the show, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-movies-is-hard...
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December 26, 2025 • 48 mins
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 503 from November 2024 featuring producer, writer, actor and director Jennifer Sorenson who talked about making her first feature For When You're Lost. I thought this was a good match for our episode with Kerry Carlock from Monday because they both talk about pulling their features together and Jennifer was involved with Kerry’s latest feature Suffer. Af...
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December 22, 2025 • 70 mins
This week we welcome writer/director Kerry Carlock to the show to talk about her second feature Suffer which she co-wrote and directed with her husband. Kerry talks about going from a $200k budget to a sub 50k budget and how that changed her process as a filmmaker. After that we play another round of THE GAME, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts! http...
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December 20, 2025 • 65 mins
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 425 from January 2022 featuring producer, director, writer, editor, Garo Setian who talked about making his feature Space Wars: The Quest for the Deepstar. Alrik thought this was a good match for our episode with MAR because they both wore multiple hats in making their sci-fi features. After that we play another round of You’re the expert, enjoy!
Don’...
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December 15, 2025 • 53 mins
This week we welcome writer/director/producer MAR on the show to talk about how he got his next feature Dresden Sun made starring Chrisitina Ricci, MAR also talks about why he likes taking on multiple roles as a filmmaker. After that we read a apple podcast review and talk about the current statuses of our projects, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Leave us a Review on Apple Podcasts...
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December 11, 2025 • 55 mins
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 462 from Feburary 2024 featuring writer and director Jade Halley Bartlett who talks about making her feature Millers Girl starring Martin Freeman and Jeana Ortega. I thought this was a good match for Hikari since they are both successful directors with movies starring movie stars! After that we play another round of You’re the expert, enjoy!
Don’t for...
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December 8, 2025 • 41 mins
This week we welcome writer/director Hikari on the show to talk her latest film Rental Family, starring Branden Fraser, how she came up with the story for the film and the process to get it made. We also talked about her earlier career, making her first feature and directing episodes of Tokyo Vice and BEEF. After that we play another round of THE GAME, enjoy!
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
...
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December 4, 2025 • 52 mins
On this Thursday bonus episode we are going to play the interview from episode 399 from November 2022 with director Orsi Nagypal who talks about leveling up her directing career, getting hired to direct The Outpost then getting the opportunity to pitch Dean Devlin to direct her first feature The Deal with a very healthy budget. I thought Orsi was a good match for our episode with Simon Cellan Jones because they both talk about the ...
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