The No Film School Podcast

No Film School
  • 4.5 (422)
  • TV & FILM
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

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.

  1. 6H AGO

    ‘Send Help’ Producer Zainab Azizi’s Studio Filmmaking Playbook

    Producer Zainab Azizi joins GG Hawkins to break down her journey from agency mailroom to President of Raimi Productions and producing studio features like Send Help. Azizi shares how she develops original ideas, packages talent, protects projects through shifting studio mandates, and leads with a collaborative producing style. She also discusses mentoring female producers, balancing creative and financial realities in modern filmmaking, and why theatrical success for original films still matters. In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins and guest Zainab Azizi discuss... How Send Help evolved from a logline in 2019 to a theatrical release Moving the project from Columbia Pictures to 20th and navigating studio mandate shifts Why Sam Raimi was essential to directing the film—and how storyboards helped secure studio confidence Packaging as a producer: attaching directors and actors through agency relationships Casting Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien and building chemistry into the film’s core dynamic The tension between “social media value” and creative talent in casting decisions What Azizi learned in the WME mailroom and how agencies really function behind the scenes Different types of producers (creative, line, financing, studio producers) and protecting the “PGA” credit Her collaborative leadership style and the “three solutions for every problem” rule Mentorship, promoting female producers, and fostering more women-led sets Why theatrical releases for original films still matter in 2026 Developing a Seshu Hayakawa biopic and why his story feels urgent today The importance of sacrifice, networking, and embracing rejection early in your career Memorable Quotes: “My job is to find three solutions for every problem.” “Rejection is just redirection. We celebrate rejections.” “If it scares you, it means you’re headed the right direction.” “You have to put yourself out there.” Guests: Zainab Azizi – President of Raimi Productions and producer of Send Help Resources: LaBelle Foundation (for adopting Cactus the foster puppy) Producers Guild of America (PGA) Producers United Find No Film School everywhere: On the Web: No Film School Facebook: No Film School on Facebook Twitter: No Film School on Twitter YouTube: No Film School on YouTube Instagram: No Film School on Instagram 📩 Send us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    41 min

  2. 1D AGO

    The Quiet Throughline in This Year’s Sundance Shorts

    Recorded live from the Sundance Film Festival, GG Hawkins hosts a roundtable conversation with four short film directors premiering work at the festival: Kelly McCormack (How Brief), Anna Baumgarten (Balloon Animals), Ana Alpízar (Norheimsund), and Anooya Swamy (Pankaja). The filmmakers discuss the origins of their films, navigating production across Cuba, India, Canada, and the U.S., working within (and outside of) film school structures, and the deeply personal themes of grief, mother-daughter relationships, disappearance, and survival that unexpectedly connect their work. In this episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins and guests discuss… Shooting narrative shorts on location in Havana, Bangalore, Vancouver, and Los Angeles Returning to Cuba to film Norheimsund after seeking asylum in the United States How Pankaja draws from growing up in the slums of Bangalore and confronting personal memory Making a $6,500 microbudget short inside a real grocery store overnight Building a short film over eight years and resisting the “proof of concept” mindset Working within NYU’s film school structure versus creating outside institutional systems Casting mother-daughter dynamics rooted in real-life relationships Designing color theory, texture, cement, and dirt as emotional language Shooting inside real police stations and navigating bureaucracy while telling stories about it Grief as a “big soup of emotions” and balancing melancholy with comedy Collaborating with ride-or-die creative partners Advice for emerging filmmakers about not compromising and trusting instinct Memorable Quotes: “Dreaming doesn’t cost a thing.” “Choosing oblivion.” “We often live really simple lives in complicated worlds.” “You are allowed not to compromise.” Guests: Kelly McCormack – Director, How Brief Anna Baumgarten – Writer/Director, Balloon Animals Ana Alpízar – Director, Norheimsund Anooya Swamy – Writer/Director, Pankaja Find No Film School everywhere: On the Web: No Film School Facebook: No Film School on Facebook Twitter: No Film School on Twitter YouTube: No Film School on YouTube Instagram: No Film School on Instagram📩 Send us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    59 min

  3. FEB 13

    How to Write Romance Scripts That Sell: Insider Tips from The Love List

    In this episode, GG Hawkins speaks with Madison Jones and Lindsay Grossman, co-founders of The Love List, along with filmmaker Shelby Blake Bartelstein, about what makes a romance script stand out in today’s marketplace. They discuss the origins of The Love List, the evolving appetite for romance across film and television, how to craft undeniable chemistry on the page, and why specificity, vulnerability, and the grand gesture are essential tools for writers hoping to sell in the genre. In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins and guests discuss... The “meet cute” origin story behind The Love List and how a shared love of YA romance sparked a professional movement How The Love List curates the best unproduced romance pilots and screenplays each year Why romance remains commercially viable—and why the industry is rediscovering its power The importance of writing what you love instead of chasing market trends How to balance high-concept hooks with emotional authenticity Crafting chemistry on the page through small, specific moments Why vulnerability is the core engine of all great storytelling The art of the grand gesture in romantic storytelling Why television romance (including slow burns and enemies-to-lovers arcs) can be just as powerful as film How executives identify “soul” in a script—and why that’s what ultimately sells Memorable Quotes: “Write what you want to watch. To me, that is the most crucial piece of advice.” “What part of you is this healing?” “You can tell when there’s not a soul in it.” “It’s not about knowing whether or not they’re going to end up together. It’s about how they get there.” Guests: Madison Jones Lindsay Grossman Shelby Blake Bartelstein Resources: Deadline - The 2026 Love List The Love List on Instagram - @TheLoveList26 “Change the Prophecy” Short Film Find No Film School everywhere: On the Web: No Film School Facebook: No Film School on Facebook Twitter: No Film School on Twitter YouTube: No Film School on YouTube Instagram: No Film School on Instagram 📩 Send us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    50 min

  4. FEB 6

    The Indie Exhibition Problem (And the People Fixing It)

    Recorded live at Sundance, this episode features a wide-ranging roundtable on the current state of independent film exhibition. Host GG Hawkins speaks with festival programmers, exhibitors, and platform founders about what’s broken in the exhibition ecosystem, what’s actually working better than people realize, and how community-driven models—from art houses to new distribution tools—are reshaping how films are discovered, shown, and sustained beyond the festival circuit. In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins and guests discuss… Why art house cinemas and film festivals remain vital community hubs The realities of audience-building beyond “market festivals” and multiplexes How filmmakers can rethink distribution, touring, and self-exhibition New tools and platforms helping filmmakers navigate submissions and discovery The rise of alternative distribution models, including physical media reimagined Why shorts, community producers, and collaboration matter more than ever How filmmakers and exhibitors can work together more effectively What a sustainable film community could look like in 2026 Memorable Quotes: “Art house cinemas and independent exhibitors and film festivals are thriving because they build community.” “Making movies is like having a baby… then you’ve got to raise it.” “There is such an opportunity on both sides for filmmakers and exhibitors to learn how to work together.” “Independent film is rooted in community and curation.” Guests: Ash Cook – Programmer, Sundance Film Festival; Festival Director, San Francisco Jewish Film Festival; Founder & CEO, Video.Storage Tony Gapastone – Founder & Executive Director, Bravemaker Lela Meadow-Conner – Interim Executive Director, Art House Convergence; Co-founder, The Popcorn List Tyler Knohl – Co-founder, Hiike; Assistant Director, Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival Brynne Norquist – Co-founder & CEO, Hiike Aidan Dick – COO, Video.Storage; Programmer, Frameline Film Festival Resources: Bravemaker – https://bravemaker.org Art House Convergence – https://arthouseconvergence.org The Popcorn List – https://thepopcornlist.com Hiike – https://hiike.com/ Video.Storage – https://www.videostoreage.com Frameline Film Festival – https://www.frameline.org Find No Film School everywhere: On the Web: No Film School Facebook: No Film School on Facebook Twitter: No Film School on Twitter YouTube: No Film School on YouTube Instagram: No Film School on Instagram 📩 Send us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    51 min

  5. FEB 5

    How to Get Into — or at Least Go to — SXSW

    In this episode, we dive into the logistics, strategy, and evolving experience of getting into and attending SXSW. GG Hawkins is joined by No Film School Founder Ryan Koo and a panel of SXSW insiders: Claudette Godfrey, Peter Hall, and Francis Román, who share their personal journeys into programming and illuminate the processes behind one of the most significant festivals in the world. Whether you’re hoping to submit, attend, or just understand the inner workings, this conversation offers clarity on what to expect from the 2026 edition and beyond. In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins, Ryan Koo, and guests discuss... The different paths each SXSW programmer took to join the festival team Why SXSW values first-time filmmakers and how they approach the programming process Practical ways to attend SXSW (volunteering, student discounts, single tickets) Major changes to SXSW 2026, including venue shifts, badge updates, and a new festival layout How to best prepare your submission, including rough cut etiquette and the importance of strong film stills Common myths about festival programming—debunked Why meaningful networking and personal connection at SXSW can shape careers What types of films SXSW is most excited about—and what they’re seeing too much of Memorable Quotes: "If a film can make you laugh in your home alone at 2 a.m. and you've worked a 20-hour day, then it's hilarious." "If you're submitting unfinished, you should have a title card at the very beginning that says exactly where you're at." "We're looking for that director's vision, the fingerprint on it." "You should come to South By, and if you can’t, go to whatever local film festival is going on in your area." Guests: Claudette Godfrey Peter Hall Francis Román Resources: SXSW Volunteer Info Find No Film School everywhere: On the Web: No Film School Facebook: No Film School on Facebook Twitter: No Film School on Twitter YouTube: No Film School on YouTube Instagram: No Film School on Instagram 📩 Send us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 22m

  6. JAN 31

    How to Self-Produce an Indie TV Pilot in Your Hometown… and Premiere at Sundance

    In this episode recorded live at the Sundance Film Festival, No Film School founder Ryan Koo sits down with Julien and Justen Turner—real-life brothers and co-creators of FreeLance, an indie TV pilot that debuted in the festival’s Episodic Pilot Showcase. The Turner Brothers walk through their journey of building a creative career outside of New York or LA, self-funding their show in Columbus, Ohio, and pulling off a high-production-value pilot in just four days. They talk about their process, influences, and how their authentic, relatable characters came to life through personal experience and community-driven production. In this episode, No Film School’s Ryan Koo and guests discuss… The origin of the episodic pilot category at Sundance and its importance for indie creators How the Turner Brothers’ musical upbringing led to an early love of filmmaking Their decision to self-fund FreeLance instead of attending Sundance in 2023 Turning real-life freelance filmmaking experiences (like wedding videography chaos) into episodic comedy Casting comedians, athletes, and non-actors from social media and commercial work Building a 150-page show bible and planning a multi-season vision The four-day shoot that captured 41 minutes of content, including an improvised scene in a thrifted basement How making content in Ohio allowed the show to break traditional industry molds Advice for filmmakers: choose a date, build your team, and just shoot The surreal moment of getting the Sundance acceptance call (via their mom!) Memorable Quotes: “We kind of realized that the only people we were waiting on was ourselves.” “The more specific we were, the more universal it was.” “We shot a 41-minute pilot in four days.” “This is getting done, and it’s going to be done like this.” Guests: Julien Turner Justen Turner Resources: Dreadhead Films on Instagram dreadheadfilms.com Find No Film School everywhere: On the Web: No Film School Facebook: No Film School on Facebook Twitter: No Film School on Twitter YouTube: No Film School on YouTube Instagram: No Film School on Instagram 📩 Send us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 3m

  7. JAN 30

    How to Find Collaborators at Film Festivals, from Sundance '26

    This episode of the No Film School Podcast is recorded live from the final Sundance Film Festival in Park City, 2026. GG Hawkins and Ryan Koo are joined by No Film School writer Jo Light and special guest Teddy Kim to share insights and lessons from Sundance. Together, they reflect on what it takes to find true creative collaborators at festivals, how the indie landscape continues to shift, and why human connection still matters more than ever in a rapidly changing industry. The episode includes a game of "Red Flag, Green Flag" and wraps with an interview between Ryan Koo and writer-director Stephanie Ahn, whose feature Bedford Park won the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Debut Feature at Sundance 2026. In this episode you'll hear... How to make the most of Sundance even if you're not actively pitching a project Why networking at film festivals is more about vibe than résumé The evolving role of indie production companies balancing studio and independent films Which films are getting buzz at Sundance 2026 and what the acquisition market looks like How filmmakers are using episodic pilots and private screenings to get attention The pros and cons of “networking dinners” and late-night parties like Tao A playful, practical game of "Red Flag, Green Flag" to decode festival behavior GG’s and Jo’s favorite short and episodic pilots—and what makes them feel fresh A deep-dive interview with Bedford Park director Stephanie Ahn about perseverance, editing your own movie, and telling emotionally resonant stories Memorable Quotes: “In filmmaking, they often say you better give 10 years of your life… I exceeded that, and Stephanie exceeded that.” “You have to be very clear about what your intentions are and what the story is going to be. If you maintain an integrity with that, people come.” “It’s not a matter of whether there is a big headline acquisition… but can a bunch of other movies get acquired for $3 million and have a healthy minimum guarantee?” “I wanted to make a film that hopefully an audience would actually feel something—genuinely feel something.” Resources: Sundance 2026 Award Winners Guests: Jo Light Teddy Kim Stephanie Ahn Resources Mentioned: Find No Film School everywhere: On the Web: No Film School Facebook: No Film School on Facebook Twitter: No Film School on Twitter YouTube: No Film School on YouTube Instagram: No Film School on Instagram 📩 Send us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 28m

  8. JAN 26

    One Last Run in Park City: How to Ski the Treacherous Slopes of Independent Film at Sundance ‘26

    In this episode recorded live from the final Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, GG Hawkins is joined by No Film School’s Ryan Koo and Jo Light to commemorate the end of an era. The trio dives into personal memories, the legacy of Robert Redford, and what the future may hold for the festival as it prepares to relocate to Boulder, Colorado. They reflect on how Sundance has supported filmmakers through its labs, how festival culture shapes careers, and the emotional highs and lows of navigating the indie film landscape. GG also shares behind-the-scenes insights from her recent event at Sundance focused on women in the business of film, while offering a candid look at what it really takes to get a film into a top-tier festival. In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins, Ryan Koo, and Jo Light discuss... What makes Sundance in Park City so special—and why it's bittersweet to say goodbye The importance of Sundance's labs and the legacy of Robert Redford The emotional impact of community and connection during film festivals GG’s first Sundance as a filmmaker with a feature and her reflections on that journey Advice for filmmakers on submission strategy and post-production polish What types of films stand out at Sundance today: high-concept, star-driven, or uniquely personal Highlights from GG’s industry dinner focused on women in the business of film Thoughts and hopes for the new Sundance location in Boulder, Colorado Memorable Quotes: “The old rules don’t apply and the new rules haven’t been written.” “If it’s not ready, don’t submit yet. Unless Willem Dafoe is in your movie.” “You’re already 99.9% past the obstacles just by making a movie.” “Robert Redford used his power to help others.” Guests: Ryan Koo Jo Light Find No Film School everywhere: On the Web: No Film School Facebook: No Film School on Facebook Twitter: No Film School on Twitter YouTube: No Film School on YouTube Instagram: No Film School on Instagram 📩 Send us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    45 min
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4.5
out of 5
422 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    No Film School
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    923
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    The No Film School Podcast

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