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. 1D AGO

    Breaking Down a Doc Fest Run: Process, People, and Payoff

    In this episode, Charles Haine sits down with documentary co-directors Geneva Peschka and Anna Andersen to discuss their latest project The Solace of Sisterhood, which recently premiered at Tribeca. The conversation dives deep into the ethics of documentary filmmaking, how they found and built trust with their subjects—the Caramel Curves, a New Orleans-based all-female motorcycle club—and how they navigated a successful festival run. From storytelling intention to set culture, the team shares their collaborative journey in bringing vulnerability, softness, and strength to the screen. In this episode, No Film School's Charles Haine and guests discuss... How Geneva and Anna met and began their creative partnership Their journey developing The Solace of Sisterhood and pitching it to Fujifilm Building trust and a safe space for documentary subjects How bringing in co-founder True’s daughter, Skye, as a camera operator deepened the film The evolving importance of ethical statements in festival submissions Shifting set culture to prioritize respect, connection, and vulnerability Working with the Fujifilm GFX100 and achieving a cinematic, soft visual tone The emotional highs and logistical challenges of their festival journey, including premiering at Tribeca Memorable Quotes: "It starts for us on set—how people come together and how we approach one another and hold space for each other." "Documentary inherently asks so much out of our participants... it’s a job you have to do with integrity and with ethics." "You’re changing who’s telling the story... you’re letting them know they are a part of their narrative, as they should be." "Filmmaking can be very lonely... but we are each other's strengths." Guests: Geneva Peschka Anna Andersen Resources: The Solace of Sisterhood – Tribeca 2024 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

    37 min

  2. JAN 9

    Why Film Culture Still Needs Physical Spaces: A Case Study of Vidiots

    This episode of the No Film School Podcast dives deep into the power and necessity of physical spaces in modern film culture. Host GG Hawkins sits down with Maggie Mackay, Executive Director and board member of Vidiots—a beloved LA video store-turned-nonprofit cultural institution. They explore the origins and revival of Vidiots, what it takes to build a sustainable, audience-centered film space in a digital world, and why community, curation, and accessibility matter more than ever. It’s a moving, behind-the-scenes look at how passion, resilience, and radical thinking can reshape the future of cinema spaces. In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins and guest Maggie Mackay discuss... The emotional and communal value of physical film spaces How Maggie revived Vidiots through radical reimagining and persistence The challenges of creating a nonprofit, sustainable film hub Why the video store experience is still relevant to new generations How partnerships and collaboration helped save and relaunch Vidiots Building an audience-first, equitable business model Creating spaces where younger and older generations can discover film together Memorable Quotes: "Holy shit, what are we letting disappear on us?" "You can deep dive in ways in a video store that you can't in any other way." "Seeing kids grow up in the video store… it's the highlight of my career." "Think about doing the risky, crazy thing… and call us if you want to figure out how to make it happen." Guests: Maggie Mackay (IMDb) Resources: Indie Empire Use code GG25 for 25% off the Micro Budget Mindset course with GG Hawkins 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

    47 min

  3. JAN 1

    How a Film Score Actually Gets Made (Step by Step) & Pete Ohs’ Distribution Experiment of 2026

    This episode of the No Film School Podcast features two conversations. First, host GG Hawkins reunites with filmmaker Pete Ohs, who returns to share the unique distribution experiment he’s launching with four films releasing throughout 2026. He reflects on his “table of bubbles” filmmaking philosophy and his desire to find joy instead of stress in the release process. Later, GG is joined by composer Hollie Buhagiar, whose original score for GG’s debut feature I Really Love My Husband is now out. They break down their collaborative process in detail, from early cue drafts to the film’s final emotional moments, revealing how bird calls, pitch-shifted vocals, and “surf rock” found their way into the film’s DNA. In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins and guests discuss... Pete Ohs’ philosophy of “table of bubbles” and how it’s guiding his 2026 film distribution approach Why Pete is using a different distribution strategy for each of his four new films What feels broken about indie film distribution today — and how to approach it differently Hollie Buhagiar’s journey into composing and her intuitive, emotion-driven scoring method The evolution of the score for I Really Love My Husband, including early drafts and final cues How creative freedom, happy accidents, and imperfect instruments brought the film to life The importance of developing a shared language between director and composer Memorable Quotes: "The films are a table made of bubbles. They cannot support anything." "The biggest result is just — is this fun?" "What's a convincing note?” "With great power comes great responsibility — even for the piano." Guests: Pete Ohs Hollie Buhagiar Resources: Pete's original pod interview Score for I Really Love My Husband on Spotify 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 15m

  4. 12/27/2025

    Your Movie Is Out In The World. Now What?

    In this episode, the tables are turned as No Film School host GG Hawkins becomes the interviewee, speaking with No Film School founder Ryan Koo about the journey of releasing her micro-budget feature I Really Love My Husband. The episode dives into the emotional, logistical, and marketing challenges of putting an independent film into the world after festival premieres and securing distribution. GG shares the lessons she’s learned, the unexpected hurdles she’s faced, and the importance of personal PR, audience-building, and staying true to your creative voice—especially when your movie doesn’t follow traditional paths or genres. In this episode, No Film School’s Ryan Koo and GG Hawkins discuss... The overwhelming and technical process of delivering a film to distributors and platforms How to strategically approach festival and release PR, including budgeting and outreach The importance of having a “community producer” to build your audience from day one Lessons learned from critical feedback, press rejections, and audience reactions How to navigate marketing when your film doesn’t fit neatly into genre boxes The value of making work that represents your voice—even if it’s not a commercial hit What filmmakers should always be working on while waiting for the "yes" from the industry Memorable Quotes: "I would rather make something that makes people feel things one way or the other versus sort of like a lukewarm back." "The only way to know how to make a movie is to make a movie... and then make another." "Greenlight yourself. That is the most important thing any of us can be doing." "It is not the time to pinch pennies... this is the time to spend it.” Resources: How to Write a Movie that Shoots in Three Months You’re Picture Locked. Now What? (Plus Dir. Ruben Fleischer!) Filmmaker’s Guide to SXSW: Tips, Takeaways, Tough Lessons Watch I Really Love My Husband: Apple Amazon Google Play and more 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 5m

  5. 12/24/2025

    How 'The Plague' Perfected the Horror of Growing Up

    Host GG Hawkins sits down with filmmaker Charlie Polinger to unpack the making of his debut feature, The Plague. Polinger discusses his transition from theater to film, the personal childhood memories that shaped the story, and how embracing chaos—rather than controlling it—became central to his directing process. From casting an electrifying ensemble of young actors to shaping dread through sound design and editing, the conversation explores how specificity, vulnerability, and trust can turn a coming-of-age story into psychological horror. In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins and guest discuss… Transitioning from theater directing to feature filmmaking Drawing from childhood memory to create visceral, psychological horror Why a boys’ water polo camp became the perfect contained setting Casting and directing a large ensemble of young actors Letting location do the storytelling heavy lifting Embracing chaos on set instead of fighting it Building anxiety through sound design and post-production rhythm Hands-on collaboration in the edit and score development Advice for emerging filmmakers on making work consistently Memorable Quotes: “I just wanted to create a really kind of visceral, subjective, psychological experience of being a 12-year-old boy.” “There’s strategy built into the cruelty and the violence and getting away with it—and that felt really ripe cinematically. “The space is sort of like a character in this film.” “The more I put out into the world, the more that the world gave back.” Guest: Charlie Polinger Resources: The Plague EP by Lexi Tannenholtz on Cannes first-timers: A First-Timer’s Guide to the Cannes Film Festival 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

    44 min

  6. 12/21/2025

    One Lens, One Vision: The Cinematography of 'The Creator'

    In this episode, host Charles Haine sits down with cinematographer Oren Soffer to dive deep into the groundbreaking and much-discussed visual style of The Creator. As the co-DP alongside Greig Fraser, Soffer shares how they achieved the film’s unique aesthetic using a prosumer Sony FX3 camera, a single vintage lens, and a minimalist, indie-inspired production model. This discussion covers everything from lighting choices and VFX collaboration to gear workflows and lens testing, offering an in-depth look at how one of the year's most visually striking sci-fi films was crafted. In this episode, No Film School's Charles Haine and guest Oren Soffer discuss... How Oren Soffer became co-DP on The Creator alongside Greig Fraser The decision to shoot 95% of the film on one vintage 75mm Kowa anamorphic lens Using the Sony FX3 with an Atomos Ninja for ProRes RAW capture The benefits of designing visual effects around photography rather than the reverse Lighting choices inspired by naturalism and a small-footprint, indie ethos The influence of films like Baraka and Rogue One on the visual approach Operating with a nimble crew and custom-built gimbal rigs Remote collaboration between Soffer, Fraser, and director Gareth Edwards The impact of location shooting across Southeast Asia Memorable Quotes: "We shot 95 percent of the movie on a single focal length, which is the Kowa Cine Prominar... you're baking the look into the image." "The way to make visual effects feel more real is to let the photography lead." "We wanted to shoot this big movie as if it’s this tiny road movie." "It was an indie film with a 90-day shoot schedule and a full stunt team... but the filmmaking process itself felt really scrappy in the best way possible." Guest: Oren Soffer 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

    58 min

  7. 12/18/2025

    How Earning an Actor’s Trust as a Director Can Drive Your Career

    Allan Ungar started directing features at just 23 and has since evolved into a filmmaker known for his action-comedy chops and ability to elicit career-best performances from his actors. In this episode, he sits down with No Film School host, GG Hawkins, to discuss how his approach has matured from rigid control to meaningful collaboration, why psychological insight is essential for directors, and how to create an environment where actors can thrive. From early experiments with camcorders to directing viral hits and the critically acclaimed Bandit and London Calling, Ungar shares a masterclass in the art and strategy of long-term career building in film. In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins and guest Allan Ungar discuss... Why understanding actor psychology is key to strong performances How Ungar transitioned from controlling sets to creating collaborative environments Techniques to push actors without breaking trust The evolution of Ungar’s directing style across films like Bandit and London Calling Building a career in chapters and managing “hurry up and wait” downtime Why creating your own opportunities is essential in today’s film landscape The importance of casting actors who can improvise and bring ideas How to know when a joke or moment fits the tone of a scene Advice for emerging filmmakers navigating their first projects Memorable Quotes: "Directing is more than just a creative outlet. You have to be good with people." "To be a filmmaker that's in control, you have to let go of control." "I leave no stone unturned. If I don't feel like I have it, I will push until we have it." "You have to figure out how to greenlight yourself." Guest: Allan Ungar 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

    53 min

  8. 12/12/2025

    From Book to Big Screen: Rebecca Sonnenshine’s Adaptation Playbook (The Housemaid, The Boys)

    Screenwriter and showrunner Rebecca Sonnenshine joins the No Film School Podcast to unpack her career and creative process behind hit adaptations including The Boys and The Housemaid. She shares how she got her start, how she discovered her voice in genre, and the intense pitch process behind landing The Housemaid. Rebecca also offers practical advice for writing contained stories, building a compelling script from source material, and creating work that audiences actually want to watch. She shares how she got her start, how she discovered her voice in genre, and the intense pitch process behind landing The Housemaid. Rebecca also offers practical advice for writing contained stories, building a compelling script from source material, and creating work that audiences actually want to watch. In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins and guest Rebecca Sonnenshine discuss... How Rebecca’s early jobs and script coverage experience helped her become a screenwriter Why she embraced genre writing and how her perspective as a woman informs her work The pitch process for adapting The Housemaid, and how she knew it was the right fit How she avoids voiceover and instead finds cinematic ways to externalize internal character thoughts The importance of blocking and movement when writing contained, single-location stories Her writing habits: page goals, scene sketching, talking out dialogue, and more What filmmakers can learn from writing bottle episodes or adapting material Why thinking about your audience is key to writing something people actually want to watch Memorable Quotes: "I read something and it either clicks or it doesn’t." "Pitching… takes a long time. You need all the twists and turns… but not more than 28 minutes." "I don’t love voiceover. So I had to find a device in which we could get some of their thoughts out." "Blocking is everything. If you’re not thinking about blocking while you’re writing, then you’re doing your project a disservice." Guests: Rebecca Sonnenshine 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

    42 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
    914
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    The No Film School Podcast

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