Shows
Cut To The Deal: The Business of FilmFilm Self-Distribution with Alrik BursellIn this episode, we dive deep into the world of indie filmmaking and self-distribution with Alrik Bursell, filmmaker and co-host of the Making Movies is Hard podcast. Alrik shares his journey, from creating his first short film Strange Thing to releasing his feature film The Alternate and building an engaged audience along the way.We cover everything you need to know about self-distribution, including:Why self-distribution is becoming increasingly popular.Practical strategies to build an audience before your film is even shot.What indie filmmakers can realistically expect to earn from self-distribution.Organic and...2025-01-0657 min
Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie FilmmakingBONUS: Throwback Interview with Producer Rick Bosner!On this Thursday throwback episode we are going to play our interview with Rick Bosner from WAAAAAY back on April 10th 2017 on episode 97. Rick was the first producer we had on the show and he talked about how he chooses his projects, told us stories about working on Fruitvale Station and talked about how he made a sustainable life for himself as a film producer. After that we play another round of THE GAME, enjoy!
If you like these throwback episodes give us a shout at podcast@makingmoviesishard.com and thanks for listening!
Check out our patreon at www.patreon...2023-04-271h 34Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie FilmmakingBONUS: Thursday Throwback Episode with Angie Powers & Elizabeth Stark!On this Thursday throwback episode we are going to play our interview with filmmakers Angie Powers and Elizabeth Stark from way back from January 2019 with one of our old co-host L. Jeffrey Moore! They talk to us about how they got into filmmaking, making films as a couple and making their first feature film, Lost in the MIddle! I thought this was a good match for our talk with Alicia and Alicia because this is another talk with a filmmaking team about pulling their feature together. After that we play another round of You’re the expert
If you like th...2023-04-201h 00Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie FilmmakingBONUS: Throwback Interview with Filmmaker Rebecca Weaver!On this Thursday throwback episode we are going to play our interview with Rebecca Weaver back from episode 103 that aired on May 22nd 2017. I thought this was a good pairing for Dawn’s episode because Rebecca actually made her first feature with a tiny two person crew on a very tiny budget of $11k. I think this is a bit smaller than what Dawn was thinking of but I think it’ll make a good contrast to hear how a filmmaker made their feature with far less resources and a really small team. After that we play another round of You’...2023-03-271h 49Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie FilmmakingBONUS: Throwback Interview with Indie Filmmaking Legend Jared Hess!Here's a throwback episode from our 100th episode way back on May 8th of 2017 at the end of the 2nd year of the show! Jared Hess is the director of Napoleon Dynamite, Nacho Libre and many others. For those who don't know Napoleon Dynamite basically became the most successful indie film ever and I don't think anything that low budget as achieved that level of success since (maybe paranormal activity). He's a working writer and a director, spending most of his time on TV and films. But the reason we wanted to talk to him was because he lived the...2023-03-161h 23Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie FilmmakingBONUS: Throwback Interview with Sleight Filmmaker J.D. Dillard!Here's a throwback episode from way back in the vault from episode 157 with writer/director J.D. Dillard who was famously attached to a Star Wars feature and a Superman feature and was in development on a remake of The Fly for many years. In this conversation we talk about making his first feature Sleight which ended up premiering at Sundance and being released in theaters and made over $1 million dollars in theaters alone before going to streaming/DVD on a $250k budget. This was a really fun conversation then and I think it remains a great one now!
If...2023-03-091h 58Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie FilmmakingBONUS: Throwback Episode with Filmmaker Aleem Hossain!This week Liz and Alrik talk with indie filmmaker Aleem Hossain about the process of making his first feature film, After We Leave, which he shot across over eight years and made it on a budget under $50k. Aleem talks about his decision to make his film over a long period of time, not rush the process and make sure he got each frame just the way he wanted.
If you like these throwback episodes give us a shout at podcast@makingmoviesishard.com and thanks for listening!
Check out our patreon at www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Order The Alternate on...2023-03-021h 12Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie FilmmakingBONUS: Throwback Interview with Don Bies!Here's a throwback episode from way back in the vault from episode 151 on April 9th 2018 with practical SFX whiz Don Bies who worked on movies such as Indiana Jones and the Last Crusades, The Fly, Galaxy Quest, Starship Troopers, Ghost Busters 2 and many more!
If you like these throwback episodes give us a shout at podcast@makingmoviesishard.com and thanks for listening!
Check out our patreon at www.patreon.com/mmihpodcast
Order The Alternate on Itunes Out Now: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/the-alternate/id1640576609?ls=12023-02-231h 50
Is This Still Good?EP: 24 Jingle all the way (FT. Alrik Bursell)"What's up Santa Babies?! Sage and Gavin worked very hard this year, and are excited to spend Christmas with their wife and child. The only problem is, they forgot to get their son Alrik the hottest new toy, Turbo Man! Join us on a wacky jaunt across Minneapolis , through door-buster sales, sleazy Santa warehouses, and a bomb threat at a radio station, all while Phil Hartman tries to bang our wife!
What does this movie have to say about gender roles? Whatever happened to Jake Lloyd? How much of Alrik's life has he spent at comic cons? Has sage ever...2020-12-231h 20
Free Lunch For ActorsAlrik BursellThe Talented Director of "The Alternate", A feature film I recently starred in, sits down to discuss our work on the film and the different perspectives of the actor and director. Be on the lookout for the film in the near future!
Alrik Also Hosts his own Podcast called "Making Movies is Hard"
http://www.makingmoviesishard.com/
Music provided by the incredible duo Baird & Beluga!
You can check them out on Spotify and BandCamp
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/free-lunch-for-actors/support2020-05-051h 10
Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie FilmmakingJust Shoot It/Making Movies is HARD Crossover #3 - How to Pick a DP!This week Liz and Alrik chat with Matt Enlow and Oren Kaplan from the Just Shoot It Podcast about how to choose a cinematographer for your projects.This all started with a text that Matt sent Alrik in regards to his series of daily logs from the set of his feature The Alternate and how Alrik really feels about working with his cinematographer.If you missed the daily logs from The Alternate you can find the first one at this link: http://www.makingmoviesishard.com/ep238/And for the rest of them you...2020-04-251h 32
Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie FilmmakingChris Ford - One and Done?Chris Ford is an advertising writer and Creative Director. Ten years ago, he took a break from agency life to make a feature film, The Village Barbershop starring John Ratzenberger (Cheers). He hasn't made another film since. We talk to him about the genesis of his feature, raising money pre-Kickstarter and get introspective on why he hasn't done it again. Tell us what you think of this episode, send an email to: podcast@makingmoviesishard.com2018-07-161h 21
Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie FilmmakingHilton Day - Assistant Directing!An assistant director is a key crew member and one that's often misunderstood by people outside the industry. Hilton Day tells us what he's learned about assistant directing over the last 6 years, from working on huge movies like "Ant Man and the Wasp" to smaller movies like the Oakland-grown "Sorry to Bother You." We talk about everything from LA vs. SF crews, working as a PA and what the exact role of the AD department is. Tell us what you think of this episode, send an email to: podcast@makingmoviesishard.com!2018-07-091h 47
Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie FilmmakingRemi Lacoste - Directing Video Games!Remi Lacoste is a game director that just wrapped the upcoming "Shadow of the Tomb Raider." He shares insights into the production of video games and how he achieves some of the most cinematic and emotional storytelling happening in games today. Tell us what you think of this episode, send an email to podcast@makingmoviesishard.com or visit our website @ www.makingmoviesishard.com!2018-07-021h 16
Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie FilmmakingHoward Franklin - Maintaining a Screenwriting Career!Howard Franklin started writing for Hollywood in the early 80s. His credits include The Name of the Rose and The Man Who Knew Too Little. He went on to direct Quick Change, The Public Eye and Larger Than Life. We talk to Howard about how he got his started, how he learned to direct and the challenge of maintaining a career in the ever-changing Hollywood landscape. Tell us what you think of this episode, send an email to podcast@makingmoviesishard.com.2018-06-111h 27
Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie FilmmakingMMIH Three Year Anniversary!Allow us to re-introduce ourselves. After three years of podcasting, we attempt to record Episode 001 all over again, but end up going on a bunch of tangents, discuss our recent guests and talk about what we would have done differently were we starting to podcast today. Tell us what you think of this episode, send an email to podcast@makingmoviesishard.com.2018-06-041h 00
Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie FilmmakingGerry Maravilla - Head of Crowdfunding, Seed & Spark!Gerry Maravilla started as a PA in Hollywood working on films such as The Beginners and moving into TV with Always Sunny in Philadelphia but now he's the Head of Crowdfunding at Seed & Spark where he helps filmmakers make their films a reality. Tell us what you think of this episode, send an email to podcast@makingmoviesishard.com.2018-05-271h 11
Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie FilmmakingJ.D. Dillard - from Bad Robot Receptionist to "The Fly" Remake!He worked as the receptionist for Bad Robot and now he's attached to direct the remake of The Fly. Hear all about how J.D. Dillard made the move to LA, sold a pitch, shot his first feature, premiered at Sundance and got hooked up with Jason Blum. Tell us what you think of this episode, send an email to podcast@makingmoviesishard.com.2018-05-201h 55
Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie FilmmakingJeffrey Allard - Producing Indie Films!Indie Film Producer Jeffrey Allard has made over 14 movies in about 15 years in the business, today he tells us about his process, how he finds his projects and how he's managed to get distribution for all his films. He also talks about why he decided to partner with Alrik on his film, The Alternate, all that and much more on this weeks episode of MMIH! Tell us what you think of this episode, send an email to podcast@makingmoviesishard.com.2018-05-141h 32
Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie FilmmakingRenee Mao - Becoming a Commercial Director!After college, it took Renee Mao just three years to sign as a commercial director. She tells us her journey from graduating Tisch in 2014 and working her way up from an Intern to director at Greenpoint Pictures. Tell us what you think of this episode, send an email to podcast@makingmoviesishard.com.2018-05-071h 38
Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie FilmmakingJon Peters - A Life in Stop Motion!This week Timothy and Alrik are joined by local stop motion director Jon Peters to talk all things stop motion. We talk about the history of the craft, how Jon got started in it and what the world of stop motion looks like today. So buckle up and get ready for a fun and nerdy ride through the world of magic being captured one frame at a time! Tell us what you think of this episode, send an email to podcast@makingmoviesishard.com.2018-04-301h 16
Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie FilmmakingElizabeth & Sean - Starting Your Own Production Company!We talk a lot about the different paths filmmakers take to getting a career started from starting as a PA to getting a full time job, but what about just starting your own production company? That's exactly what Sean McCarthy did and now he works with his partner Elizabeth Mitchell making commercials, music videos and their own passion projects, like Doucheaholics, a digital series now available on iTunes. Tell us what you think of this episode, send an email to podcast@makingmoviesishard.com.2018-04-231h 23
Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie FilmmakingDon Bies - Special FX Magic!Don Bies worked on gruesome effects and detailed models for some of the biggest films of the 80s and 90s. We’re talking The Fly, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Starship Troopers, Galaxy Quest & Fire in the Sky! Join us as we nerd out on old school effects and follow Don’s 30 year career, leading to his most recent production, an independent horror film called Keep The Gaslight Burning. Tell us what you think of this episode, send an email to podcast@makingmoviesishard.com.2018-04-091h 45
Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie FilmmakingSolo Episode - Filming a Levitation!We offer some advice on shooting a demonic levitation, and then ponder whether or not you have to be “The Best” to have a successful career. Tell us what you think of this episode, send an email to podcast@makingmoviesishard.com.2018-04-021h 02
Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie FilmmakingPolarizing Audiences - L. Jeffrey Moore!Is polarizing an audience a good thing or a bad thing? To help navigate Alrik and Timothy's disagreement on the subject we have Producer, Writer and Actor L. Jeffrey Moore to talk about why he wrote The Rage! Tell us what you think of this episode, send an email to podcast@makingmoviesishard.com.2018-03-051h 31
Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie FilmmakingSophia LaPaglia - Approaching Nudity, Sex & Violence in Your Film!Alrik's film "The Rage" is out in the world and given it's study of sex and violence, we decided to dedicate an entire episode to working with nudity, sex and violence. Here to join us is actress Sophia LaPaglia who gives us the dos and dont's of nudity, sex and violence. Tell us what you think of this episode, send an email to podcast@makingmoviesishard.com.2018-02-261h 33
Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie FilmmakingKarina Wolfe - How Actors Create Memorable Performances!Actress Karina Wolfe tells us how she creates a performance, from breaking down a script to working with directors. Plus we share stories from the sets of "Over My Dead Body," "The Spirit Machine" and "Zombie Vs. Drone." Tell us what you think of this episode, send an email to podcast@makingmoviesishard.com.2018-02-121h 29
Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie FilmmakingSolo Episode - Alrik Bursell's "The Alternate"!This week Alrik and Timothy dedicate a whole episode to Alrik's film, The Alternate, which is currently in development with a target shoot date of Fall 2018. We break down what the project is and what it's going to take to get it made! Tell us what you think of this episode, send an email to podcast@makingmoviesishard.com.2018-02-051h 18
Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie FilmmakingReed Shusterman - How Script Reading Works!Reed Shusterman is a filmmaker who is also a professional script reader. He answers all our burning questions about script readers including: how does a script reader evaluate a script? What makes a script good? What are script readers looking for? And how do you get a better a score? Tell us what you think of this episode, send an email to podcast@makingmoviesishard.com.2018-01-291h 28
Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget FilmmakingWhy Making Movies Is Hard With Timothy Plain and Alrik BursellFor the past two years Timothy Plain and Alrik Bursell have interviewed countless filmmakers on their popular podcast - Making Movies Is Hard. Over the course of these interviews the filmmaking duo have benefitted from a tremendous amount of professional insight covering every stage of the process from conception to distribution.In today's episode, Timothy and Alrik generously share some of the most valuable lessons they have learned along the way, both as hosts of the MMIH podcast and as filmmakers in their own right. Topics covered include the state of independent/micro-budget film today, breaking in to the b...2017-10-271h 14
Tapeheads: A Podcast on VHS48. The Terminator (w/ Alrik Bursell)Filmmaker Alrik Bursell drops by the podcast to watch the 1984 sci-fi classic The Terminator on VHS. Topics include: Alrik's experience watching the movie on a CED video disc; the films of James Cameron; the original Terminator as a horror movie; the sequels; the performances of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Michael Biehn, and Lance Henriksen. Be sure to check out Alrik's podcast Making Movies is Hard at www.makingmoviesishard.com and watch his award-winning short films Strange Thing and Brother at www.bursellproductions.com2017-04-1000 min