Shows
My First FilmFrom Viral Short to Sundance: Jim Cummings on Making Thunder RoadJim Cummings is the writer-director behind Thunder Road, The Wolf of Snow Hollow, and The Beta Test—but before any of that, he made a feature he now calls “cringeworthy.” From crashing on his parents’ floor with film school friends to reinventing himself after a five-year directing hiatus, Jim has built a career by staying fiercely independent and refusing to wait for permission.In this episode, Jim walks us through the entire journey—from making Thunder Road on Kickstarter and equity investments, to landing a surprise Amazon deal, to self-distributing the feature and making over $1 million. He shares how...2025-06-0539 min
My First FilmEp. 9 - The Burghart Brothes on "Head Count"Meet Jacob and Ben Burghart, the dynamic filmmaking duo behind the indie feature "Head Count" (2023)! In this episode of My First Film, host Alec C. Cohen dives deep into their incredible journey from small-town Kansas to creating a critically acclaimed movie. The Burghart brothers share how they honed their craft with whimsical VHS shorts, broke into the industry with their short film "Suspense," and turned a bold vision into a reality by working with Continuance Pictures and Shout Factory. Their story is proof that great cinema can come from anywhere!
Learn how they navigated the challenges of indie filmmaking...2025-01-2646 min
My First FilmEp. 8 - Francis Galluppi on "The Last Stop in Yuma County"In this episode of the My First Film podcast, director Francis Galluppi shares the extraordinary journey of creating his debut feature film, The Last Stop in Yuma County, on a budget of under $1 million. Francis discusses the pivotal decisions that brought the project to life, including his intentional approach to writing stories rooted in real locations and his friend's life-changing decision to sell his house to fund the film.
Francis also reflects on how he secured his dream cast by writing heartfelt letters to actors he admired, showcasing the power of persistence and genuine passion in filmmaking. His candid...2024-12-2733 min
My First FilmEp. 7 - Amanda Lundquist on "Pinsky"In this episode of the My First Film podcast, director Amanda Lundquist takes us behind the scenes of her debut feature film, Pinsky, made for just $30,000. Amanda shares the highs and lows of bringing her vision to life, from crowdfunding on Kickstarter to filming in her hometown of Boston. She dives into the creative ways her team leveraged local resources, like using her family apartment as a key location, and highlights the importance of collaboration with friends and community.
Amanda reflects on how limitations shaped the film, turning challenges into creative opportunities. She talks candidly about navigating...2024-12-1142 min
My First FilmEp. 6 - Clay Tatum on "The Civil Dead"In this episode of the "My First Film" podcast, director Clay Tatum shares his journey to making his debut feature film, "The Civil Dead", for under $50,000. Clay talks about how his long-standing friendship with producer Mike Marasco played a crucial role in getting the film funded, as well as how years of making short films and comedy sketches helped him build the network needed to take the next step. He emphasizes the importance of staying connected in the industry and using those relationships to create opportunities. The film, shot in just 12 days with a skeleton crew, is a testament...2024-10-0940 min
My First FilmEp 5. - Edoardo Vitaletti on "The Last Thing Mary Saw"In this episode of *My First Film*, host Alec C. Cohen interviews Edoardo Vitaletti about his debut feature film *The Last Thing Mary Saw*. Edoardo shares his journey from Monza, Italy, to New York, where he attended NYU to study filmmaking. He discusses how his love for writing led him to film, despite not picking up a camera until later in life. The conversation dives into the challenges of making his first feature, including transforming a short script into a feature-length project and directing on a tight budget with a limited schedule. Edoardo also talks about securing talent like...2024-09-1629 min
My First FilmEp. 4 - Jonathan Cuartas on "My Heart Can't Beat Unless You Tell It To"Filmmaker Jonathan Cuartas is making waves in the indie horror scene with his debut feature, "My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To." In this episode, Jonathan sits down with host Alec C. Cohen to discuss how he brought his intimate horror-drama to life outside the traditional film hubs of Los Angeles and New York. From turning a proof of concept short film into a feature to collaborating closely with his brother and father, Jonathan's journey is a testament to the power of family and perseverance in filmmaking.
Throughout the episode, Jonathan di...2024-08-2631 min
My First FilmEp. 3 - Joel Potrykus on "Ape"One of the fiercest contemporary voices in independent cinema, Joel Potrykus stands firmly in a league of his own when it comes to grungy slacker flicks. His recent works include "Buzzard," "The Alchemist Cookbook," and "Relaxer" garnering him prestigious festival selections like SXSW and Fantasia. But his first feature, "Ape," is a total miracle child.
Done on a shoestring budget of less than $2,000, Joel and his team paid more money to attend the Locarno Film Festival where he won Best Emerging Director than the film itself. "Ape" is a ferocious and wholly original piece...2024-08-1534 min
My First FilmEp. 2 - Colin West on "Double Walker"For our exciting second episode, we're joined by Colin West, an ~out of this world~ director known for incorporating Sci-Fi concepts into grounded drama. His short films have garnered hundreds of thousands of views, Vimeo Staff Picks, and Dust features. He's made two feature films, "Double Walker" and "Linoleum."
West discusses his upbringing in Colombus, OH, his decision to go to USC Grad Film, his struggles post-grad, and his journey to make "Double Walker" a reality. He has some great practical advice for first-time filmmakers looking to make their debut feature, especially when it...2024-08-0735 min
My First FilmEp. 1 - Jonah Feingold on "Dating & New York"For our very first episode, we're joined by the incomparable Jonah Feingold, a rom-com director known for his films Exmas, At Midnight, and the upcoming 31 Candles. His first feature is "Dating & New York," a contemporary classic showing the trials and tribulations of millennial dating in the greatest city on earth.
Jonah will tell us about his upbringing in NYC, his decision to go to USC Film, his struggles post-grad, and his journey to make "Dating" a reality. He has some great practical advice for first-time filmmakers looking to make their debut feature, especially when...2024-07-3133 min
My First FilmEp. 0 - Welcome to My First FilmWelcome to "My First Film," a weekly podcast where we interview Hollywood's hottest directors and learn how they made their first feature film. My name is Alec C. Cohen, I'm a writer/director based in Los Angeles, CA who is looking to make My First Film. Each episode will follow one director's journey from first picking up a camera to making a full-fledged movie. At the end of every episode, I'll give a quick update on the development process of my feature "Petunia." Thanks for checking out this pod, make sure to follow along for more!2024-07-2800 min