The No Film School Podcast No Film School
-
- TV & Film
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.
-
Breaking Down the Black List
The Blacklist started as an annual list of the best, unproduced screenplays in Hollywood. Nowadays, it’s an awesome online platform that nurtures and empowers screenwriters from around the world, by helping them showcase their scripts and grow within the industry.
In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins, Jason Hellerman, and host of the Blacklisted podcast, Chris Hill, discuss:
How the Blacklist got its start and what it looks like today
The difference between the website and the annual list of scripts
Getting multiple reports on a script
Recurring themes of screenplays on the Blacklist
What life is like after being on the list
The importance of using action descriptions
Approaching your script with a journalistic curiosity
How to avoid writing a purely factual story
The best way to approach writing a biopic
Why you need to write a detailed outline
Memorable Quotes
“One of the best things about the Blacklist is that it intentionally gives you heat.” [15:44]
“You're always pushing that rock up the hill, no matter what level you’re at. The rock isn’t lighter. Now it’s a bigger rock.” [21:05]
“Hollywood isn’t just an IP delivering service. It’s where dreamers go to dream big ideas.” [48:30]
Mentioned
The Blacklist website
Listen to Blacklisted on Apple
Listen to Blacklisted on Spotify
Follow Chris on X
Follow Blacklisted Podcast on X
Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
https://nofilmschool.com/
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool
Twitter
https://twitter.com/nofilmschool
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool
Send us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Navigate All Facets of Comedy With 'The Office' & 'Abbott Elementary' Director Ken Whittingham
Ken Whittingham has directed shows we all know and love such as, The Office, 30 Rock, and Parks and Recreation. More recently, he has worked on the TV comedy, Abbot Elementary, which uses a mockumentary production style, similar to The Office. While Ken is an award-winning director with over 25 years of experience, he believes in the power of teamwork and respecting everyone on set regardless of their title.
In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins speaks with director Ken Whittingham and BraveMaker podcast host Priscilla Lam to discuss:
Selling a script as a new PA
How Ken became a television director
Learning how to clearly communicate with actors
The balance between giving actors autonomy and giving them direction
An awkward moment with Alec Baldwin on the set of 30 Rock
Tone meetings - what are they and why are they important
Treating the documentarian in The Office as if it were a separate character
The power of subtlety in comedy
How Ken and Priscilla met
Transitioning from TV into film
Our favorite shows, movies, and hobbies
Memorable Quotes
“I still get nervous. Every Sunday night before I shoot Monday morning, I’m nervous.” [10:37]
“You can’t get into this business, thinking about money. You have to go with your passion, and really believe in yourself.” [42:56]
“Everybody’s job is important and nobody’s job is more important than the other. It’s a team effort.” [48:01]
Mentioned
Abbott Elementary S2E21
The Office S1E3
Ken's Instagram
Priscilla's Instagram
BraveMaker on Instagram
BraveMaker Film Festival
Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
https://nofilmschool.com/
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool
Twitter
https://twitter.com/nofilmschool
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool
Send us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
How ‘I Saw the TV Glow’ Editor Balances Creative, Tech & Negotiates Higher Pay
As a beginning editor, working on low-budget projects is normal when you’re first starting. Once you get some experience under your belt, there comes a time when you have to start advocating for yourself so that you can get paid more. The “something is better than nothing mindset” can only serve you for so long, before you start to burn out.
In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins and editor Sofi Marshall discuss:
Falling in love with editing in high school
What the indie film scene is like in New York
How to editors can make themselves more visible and less excluded
What it’s like to watch a Sundance premiere of a film you worked on
Landing the editing role on I Saw the TV Glow
What it was like to work on two different films at the same time
Sofi’s favorite tools in Adobe Premiere
Cutting the entire film remotely
Taking on too many low-budget projects at the start of her career
Knowing when to ask for more pay
Memorable Quotes
“All of my films have come to me via a direct recommendation, just from people I have met.” [5:05]
“There’s nothing like watching your movie during that first premiere. It’s such a dopamine rush and terrifying at the same time. It’s great.” [8:19]
“No matter how much pre-planning you do, it’s always going to change in the edit.” [23:02]
Mentioned
I Saw The TV Glow
Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
https://nofilmschool.com/
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool
Twitter
https://twitter.com/nofilmschool
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool
Send us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Paramount — Skydance Merger; Scope, Scale & Dragon Battles
Paramount and Skydance are merging. How does that impact the people already involved in those companies and what does it mean for the rest of us? How did House of Dragon pull off the epic Battle of Rook’s Rest, featuring multiple, fighting dragons? Let’s find out together!
In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins and Jason Hellerman discuss:
What we know about the Paramount - Skydance merger
Whether or not the merger will result in job losses
An epic battle scene on season 2 of House of The Dragon
What we love about this HBO series
Creating flexibility in your shooting process
The importance of scope and scale
Including establishing shots into your script
The types of oners we find frustrating
Memorable Quotes
“There will always be job losses with mergers because there will always be redundancies.” [7:50]
“Whether you’re in TV or you’re in film, we do need to invest in brutality to make it feel real.” [15:38]
“If you’re just letting your camera roll, no thank you. That is not scale. That is not scope. That is not impressive.” [23:12]
Mentioned
Mastering Scope and Scale in Screenwriting
Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
https://nofilmschool.com/
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool
Twitter
https://twitter.com/nofilmschool
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool
Send us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
How To Write a Movie To Shoot (In Three Months)
On this special episode of the No Film School podcast, host GG Hawkins shares her experience of writing her first feature, 'I Really Love My Husband' on a small budget and arguably, an even smaller timeline. She discusses the constraints she faced, the collaborative writing process, and the challenges of receiving feedback. GG emphasizes the importance of pushing through the bad drafts to reach the good ones and highlights the value of constraints in spurring creativity. She also emphasizes the need for support from others and setting deadlines.
Takeaways
Constraints can spur creativity and lead to unique and specific storytelling.
Writing doesn't have to be a lonely process; seek feedback and collaborate with others.
Push through the bad drafts to reach the good ones; don't be discouraged by initial shortcomings.
Setting deadlines and receiving feedback from trusted sources can help refine and improve the script.
Video: https://vimeo.com/979992225?share=copy
Support the film: gghawkins.com/backourfilm
This episode is Directed & Produced by Max Gibson
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
The Burden of Unpaid Work, Ramping Up Your Reps & Roth IRAs; Plus ‘A Family Affair’ Screenwriter Carrie Solomon
At what point should you get paid for the work you do to develop a project? What types of conversations should you be having with your agent? How can you show up confidently for potential projects, even though you’re feeling utterly afraid?
In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins, Jason Hellerman, and guest Carrie Solomon discuss:
Smart ways to save money as a filmmaker
How to build rapport with your reps and make sure you’re on the same page
The truth about doing development work and how you should approach being paid
An important question you must ask yourself when writing a spec
When Carrie realized she needed to scale up the story for A Family Affair
Getting in the habit of reading scripts
Why she quit working as a PA on Ingrid Goes West
Being thrown into the world of studio writing
How doing improv helped Carrie have less fear when going into meetings
Embracing failure and welcoming fear
The most intimidating part about writing A Family Affair
The difference between likeability and lovability in characters
Memorable Quotes
“It's hard to get money out of Hollywood right now. You’re squeezing water from a stone.” [19:59]
“The only way to make money in this business is if someone loves your idea so much.” [22:35]
“I try to read as many scripts as I possibly can. I’m usually not picking up a book, I’m picking up a screenplay.” [29:00]
“From a very young age, I was a storyteller. And by that, I mean as a child, I was a big fat liar.” [37:54]
“Everyone has their own terrible little journey with finally getting their fingers on the keyboard.” [50:50]
Mentioned
A Family Affair
Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
https://nofilmschool.com/
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool
Twitter
https://twitter.com/nofilmschool
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool
Send us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices