MAKE IT

The MAKE IT podcast salutes the Indie Film Creative. Join us weekly for candid conversations with seasoned pros, offering advice, knowledge, and industry insights to fast-track the journey for aspiring film professionals. Discover inspiration and guidance tailored for your cinematic path. Enjoy the journey? Dive deeper at www.themakeitpodcast.com and follow us on Instagram and X @_makeitpodcast.

408 - “Just Friends” and “Brain Games” creator Adam “Tex” Davis on Mastering Podcasts, Pitches, and Storytelling
Apr 18, 2025 – 01:51:49
407 - “PERSONA” Actress & Producer Shanti Lowry on Race, Art, and Authenticity, Making Movies on Your Own Terms, and Connecting Hollywood's Hidden Threads
Apr 4, 2025 – 01:47:20
#05 - SUMMARIES | Sophie Holland: Inside the Casting Director's Playbook
Mar 28, 2025 – 14:33
406 - "Selling Superman" Director Adam Schomer on Meditation, Documentaries, Inner Power, and Legal Strategies for Documentary Filmmakers
Mar 21, 2025 – 01:28:25
405 - Indie Talk - The Art of Giving (and Receiving) Killer Screenplay Notes, Balancing Meritocracy and Opportunity in Filmmaking, and Tracing the Evolution of Black Representation in Media
Mar 7, 2025 – 02:13:19
#04 SUMMARIES | Christian Gregory: The Gregory Legacy: Honoring a Trailblazer's Impact on Health, Activism, and Entertainment
Feb 28, 2025 – 18:03
404 - Emmy Award-Winning Director Fr3deR1ck Taylor on Race in Film & The Plight of the Intellectual Black Male
Feb 21, 2025 – 02:27:28
403 - Author Jim Fredrick on His New Book "Opening Weekend,” An Insider's Look at the Challenges of Movie Marketing, and Cracking the Code of Successful Film Campaigns
Feb 12, 2025 – 01:56:56
402 - Filmmaker and Educator Mariah Kramer - Unlocking the Secrets of Student Filmmaking, Essentials of Filmmaking, Festivals, Funding, and the Future of Documentary
Feb 7, 2025 – 01:39:30
Mistakes In The Making with Jon Fitzgerald - When Casting Friends Goes Wrong
Jan 31, 2025 – 08:01
401 - Founder of Entertainment Business School Kaia Alexander - Working with Garry Shandling, What Development Execs Buy, Building Your Filmmaking "Wolf Pack" and the Art of Pitching
Jan 24, 2025 – 02:10:09
#03 - SUMMARIES | Scilla Andreen: Building a Tribe in the Film Industry, Creating Impactful Social Issue Films and Forging a Mission-Driven Career
Jan 17, 2025 – 17:36
400 - “Plan B” Director Brandon Tamburri on Directing Your First Feature, How to Assemble an All-Star Indie Film Cast, and his new podcast “Joke Zero"
Jan 11, 2025 – 01:56:30
Mistakes in the Making - Zair Montes - Funding Woes, Resilience and Navigating Contractual and Casting Pitfalls
Jan 3, 2025 – 13:02
#02 - SUMMARIES | Jennifer Cooney: Radical Honesty, Exploring the Duality of the Human Experience, and Building a Collaborative Creative Team Rooted in Mutual Respect
Dec 27, 2024 – 13:45
399 - Best of MAKE IT 2024 - Holiday Season Special
Dec 20, 2024 – 01:53:31
Mistakes in the Making - Natalie Ruffino Wilson - Trusting Your Instincts, Setting Boundaries, and Protecting Your Work
Dec 13, 2024 – 15:16
398 - Rich Hull - Producer, Filmmaker - Navigating the Chaos of Documentary Filmmaking, Keys to Unlocking Opportunities in Filmmaking, Agile Filmmaking and Adapting the Tech Mindset to Documentary Production and Spotlighting Combat Chaplains
Dec 6, 2024 – 02:00:02
Mistakes In the Making - Kyler Wilson, Director & Writer - Don't Work Without a Contract
Nov 29, 2024 – 16:44
#01 - SUMMARIES | Lexie Mosby: Purity Culture, Revelatory Filmmaking, and Exploring the Complexities of Character and Consent
Nov 22, 2024 – 12:10
397 - Phaith Montoya - Influencer Stardom, Overcoming Rejection, Building Community, Toxic Social Media Criticism, Plus-Size Fashion, Redefining Representation in Media | Indie Talk Takeover
Nov 19, 2024 – 01:18:11
396 - Director Coke Daniels - Why Filming “The Waterboyz” was Challenging, His Journey from Hip-Hop to Indie Filmmaking, Code-Switching, Authenticity, and the Responsibility of Representation, and Embracing AI in Filmmaking | Indie Talk Takeover
Nov 8, 2024 – 02:12:21
395 - Actress Katherine Ro - An Insider Look at The Terminal List Prequel, How to Succeed in Hollywood While Prioritizing Family, Stunt Performing, Mastering Voice Acting, How to Impress Gatekeepers | Indie Talk Takeover
Oct 29, 2024 – 01:59:36
394 - Aaron Irons & Josh Croft on Making 'Jeffrey’s Hell,' the Unique World of the Defy Film Festival, Appalachian Horror, Mastering Found Footage, How Tubi is Empowering Independent Filmmakers, The Art of Low-Budget Filmmaking, The Keys to Sustainable Indie Film Success | Indie Talk Takeover
Oct 18, 2024 – 02:02:26
393 - David “D. Bird” Birdsall - The Last Mixtape, White Collar Rhymes Discord, Renting an Airbnb w/ Strangers, Truth in Diss Tracks, Evolving Landscape of Music Creation and Collaboration, Northwest Hip Hop, Atmosphere, Aesop Rock, Ludacris, Drake, and Kendrick Biopic Potential, The Rise of DJing, AI-Generated Music | Indie Talk Takeover
Oct 8, 2024 – 01:24:38
392 - Tiffany Murray - How to Use Creative Constraints, '2 Lives in Pittsburgh', The Best Camera for Indie Filmmaking, Collaborating Without Cockiness, Chasing Virality, Systemic Shifts in Conflict Resolution, and Fostering Inclusive Environments | Indie Talk Takeover
Sep 27, 2024 – 01:34:08
391 - 100K Subscribers, The Legacy of James Earl Jones, Disney's Live-Action Remakes, The Influence of Bots and Social Media and Shaping Cultural Narratives in the Entertainment Industry | Indie Talk
Sep 17, 2024 – 01:52:27
390 - Director Michael Day - How to Go From Accountant to Director, Insights into Hollywood Accounting, Directing Your First Feature Film, Hitchcock, Tarantino, and the Art of Influence, Navigating the Delicate Balance of Marketing Independent Films, Strategies for Indie Filmmakers to Break Through, Unlocking the Keys to Success in a Competitive Film Industry
Sep 10, 2024 – 01:41:39
389 - Acclaimed Producer Gale Anne Hurd - Producing The Terminator, Aliens, and The Walking Dead, Building Successful Director-Producer Partnerships, Marketing Blockbusters, Strategies for Avoiding Costly Mistakes, and Advice on Maintaining a Healthy Work-Life Balance in the Film Industry
Sep 3, 2024 – 51:41
388 - Exploring Hollywood's Franchise Fixation, Unpacking Warner Brother’s $8.5B Nevada Deal, and Navigating AI's Impact on the Animation Industry | Indie Talk
Aug 27, 2024 – 01:30:34
387 - Indie Rights CEO Linda Nelson - How to Navigate the Streaming Landscape and Lessons in Entrepreneurship from a Pioneering Filmmaker
Aug 16, 2024 – 01:50:11
386 - Filmmakers John Kirby and Libby Handros: Exploring the JFK, RFK, Malcolm X and MLK Jr. Assassinations, Conspiracy Theories, the Genius of Dick Gregory, Famous Patsies, "Long Legs" Marketing, and their Documentary ‘Four Died Trying’
Aug 6, 2024 – 01:56:39
385 - Revisiting Indie Film Investment with Writer Jason McConnell - The Four Whys of Film Investing, Keys to Long-Term Success, the Transactional Nature of Hollywood, the Changing Landscape of Independent Film, Avoiding Predatory Contracts, and Protecting Your Film Investment
Jul 26, 2024 – 01:26:38
384 - Indie Film Investment From A to Z - EVERYTHING You Need To Know Before You Wire Funds | Re-Air
Jul 25, 2024 – 01:36:58
383 - Dr. Christian Gregory - Producer, Author, and Entrepreneur - Lessons in Health, Environment, and Activism, The Rise and Fall of Early Hollywood, How to Reclaim Your Attention, The Evolution of Storytelling, and Building Sustainable Brands for People and Planet
Jul 16, 2024 – 02:11:36
382 - Joshua Lastine - Entertainment Lawyer - Navigating Creative Representation, Legal Strategy, Insuring Your Creative Earnings, Reclaiming Creativity from Algorithms, and Funding Independent Films - Indie Talk Takeover
Jul 5, 2024 – 01:28:54
381 - Filmmakers Sav Rodgers and Alex Schmider - How to Make Award-Winning Documentaries, ‘Chasing Chasing Amy’s’ Production Journey, Identity vs. Representation, When to Fight for Authentic Stories, Finding Meaning Beyond Financial Success, How to Break the Hollywood System, and the Realities of a Sustainable Film Career
Jun 25, 2024 – 02:07:22
380 - Bonus Episode feat. Jon Fitzgerald: Festival Strategies: Choosing the Right Film Festivals for Your Goals, Crafting an Irresistible Film or TV Show Presentation, Signs Your Screenplay Needs Work and Tips for Working with Low Budgets and Limited Resources
Jun 20, 2024 – 01:06:24
379 - Jon Fitzgerald - Founder - Slamdance Film Festival - How to Network and Navigate the Festival Circuit, How to Become a Master Storyteller, Filmmaking for Social Impact, and Investing in a Career of Constant Creation
Jun 14, 2024 – 01:45:47
378 - Indie Talk w/ Chris & Nick - Hollywood Business Dynamics, Ghosting in the Film Industry, and Funding and Feedback Loops in Filmmaking
Jun 4, 2024 – 01:42:59
377 - Actor Sara Antonio - Working on Will Trent, Lessons on Acting from Louis Gossett Jr, Scene Study Techniques, Overcoming Rejection in the Entertainment Industry, and Crafting Stories and Careers Outside the Studio System
May 24, 2024 – 01:59:52
376 - Nathan Rigaud - Whale Animation Studios Creative Executive, Cinematographer, and Animator - Deconstructing the Art of Visual Storytelling, Going from From PA to Director, Learning the Film Industry as a Teenager | Indie Talk Takeover
May 14, 2024 – 01:43:11
375 - Reviewing ‘Monkey Man’, Representation in Film, Content Overload, Influencer Personas, Mike Tyson’s Fight with Jake Paul, and Historic Breakout Roles | Indie Talk
May 3, 2024 – 01:27:03
374 - Micah Simms, Cinematographer - The Art of Visual Storytelling, Secrets from a Film and Commercial Shoot Pro, Crafting Shots from Concept to Screen, and Mapping Shots to the Director's Vision
Apr 23, 2024 – 01:57:20
373 - Filmmakers Dexter Strong Buell & Derek Mindler on Speaking Truth in an Attention-Seeking Culture, Untangling Cult Cinema Cash Cows, A New Kind of Film School, Indie Ingenuity, and Their Short Film The South Shore | Indie Talk Takeover
Apr 12, 2024 – 01:48:04
372 - Jason Padgitt, Executive Director of the Nashville Film Festival - Inside the World of Film Festival Programming, The Power of Music Docs, What Festival Selections Reveal about a Film, and Balancing Art, Industry and Integrity
Apr 2, 2024 – 01:50:55
371 - Angus Benfield - Actor, Director, and Producer | The Story Behind “The Keeper,” Independent Filmmaking on a Budget, Tips for Avoiding Burnout, AI Tools, and Following Your Passion into a Career
Mar 22, 2024 – 01:35:50
370 - Launching Films in the Digital Age, New Models for Connecting Creators and Audiences, Navigating the Legal Landscape of Entertainment, and Optimizing the Film Industry | Daril Fannin & Austin Worrell - Founders, Kino Studios
Mar 12, 2024 – 01:34:22
369 - Balancing Art and Commerce in Independent Film, Using Art for Activism and Social Change | Actor, Writer & Producer Jordan Charles
Mar 4, 2024 – 01:28:04
368 - Indie Talk Takeover | Why Film Festivals Still Reign Supreme for Filmmakers, Staying Motivated, and Ranking the Best Films of Awards-Season | Host and Founder of Film Wax Radio - Adam Schartoff
Feb 20, 2024 – 01:34:03