
Free Daily Podcast Summary
by Giles Alderson
A podcast about how to make film and TV by filmmakers who actually make them. Interviewing guests from the film-making world from Indie film to Hollywood and everything in between. Hosts Giles Alderson (The Dare), Dom Lenoir (Winter Ridge), Lucinda Rhodes Thakrar (Wolves of War), Tori & Matthew Butler-Hart (Two Down), Phil Hawkins (Prancer: A Christmas Tale), Stephen Follows (Film Data Analyst), Christian James (Fanged Up), Andy Rodger (Three Day Millionaire) and many others explore the world behind-the-scenes of making films and TV, talking to the actors, writers, directors and producers who make them!
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While Giles is still deep in his latest feature film prep, the brilliant Dom Lenoir took the reins for this one, and what a guest he has lined up. Today, Dom sits down with the phenomenal Oscar-winning writer and director Sian Heder. You will know Sian’s incredible work from her Academy Award-winning feature CODA, her brilliant debut Tallulah and her stellar television work on hit shows like Orange Is the New Black and Little America. Sian's incredible new film Being Heumann, starring Ruth Madeley, Mark Ruffalo and Dylan O'Brien, is out now. In this episode, she gets incredibly candid about the brutal ten-year journey to get her first feature off the ground, the reality of shooting it while seven months pregnant with a toddler in tow and the jarring shift between the insular creative process of production and the exhausting drag of the publicity machine. 🎬 IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: The Ten-Year Hustle: Sian breaks down the decade of rejection she faced trying to get her debut feature made, proving that tenacity is the most important trait a director can have. Directing in the Trenches: The wild, unfiltered reality of running a set and directing a feature film while seven months pregnant. Pitching Apple: The sheer nerve and strategy required to walk into a pitch with a streamer giant like Apple before CODA had won a single Oscar. Securing Life Rights: How a simple, honest cold email to legendary disability rights activist Judy Heumann secured the rights to make Being Heumann. The Publicity Machine: The jarring transition from the quiet, focused environment of a film set to the relentless energy of a global press tour. GUEST CREDITS: Being Heumann (2026) – Writer / Director CODA (2021) – Writer / Director Little America (2020–) – Co-Developer / Executive Producer Tallulah (2016) – Writer / Director Orange Is the New Black (2013–2015) – Writer / Producer SESSIONS is OUT on Prime and Apple on 27th November 2026 Trailer and premiere tickets here: https://sessionsfilm.com/ PODCAST MERCH Get your very own Tees, Hoodies, on-set water bottles, mugs and more on our Creator Spring store. COURSES Want to learn how to finish your film? Take our POST PRODUCTION COURSE at Cutting Room Info. PATREON Big thank you to: Serena Gardner Mark Hammett Lee Hutchings Marli J Monroe Karen Newman Want your name in the show notes or some great bonus material on filmmaking? Join our Patreon for bonus episodes, industry survival guides and feedback on your film projects! SUPPORT THE PODCAST Check out our full episode archive on how to make films at TheFilmmakersPodcast dot com. CREDITS The Filmmakers Podcast is written, edited and produced by Giles Alderson @gilesalderson Logo and Banner Art by Lois Creative Theme Music by John J. Harvey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We are keeping the focus entirely on craft this week with a deep dive into one of the most affecting, emotionally rigorous films of the year. In a brand new Academy Masterclass, Giles Alderson and Dom Lenoir sit down with director Marie Kreutzer and her incredible lead actress, Léa Seydoux, to discuss the creation of Gentle Monster. The film relies entirely on the unspoken, exploring the devastating fallout of a fractured family dynamic and a mother forced to confront a reality she cannot change. Marie and Léa break down the incredibly intimate, often silent collaboration required to bring such a heavy, insular world to life without ever slipping into melodrama. 🎬 IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: Directing the Unspoken: How Marie and Léa built trust on set, relying on a shared shorthand rather than over-talking a scene, and why sometimes the best direction is giving an actor the freedom to simply be. The Weight of the Silence: Why the hardest moments to film were the quietest, and the specific scene in the office that forced Léa to tap into a completely raw, unfiltered vulnerability. Embracing the Uncomfortable: The process of stripping away theatricality and forcing an audience to sit in the discomfort of a character who is actively resisting her own grief. The Director-Actor Bond: Why Marie specifically wrote the role for Léa, and the unique, almost wordless connection they shared when navigating the film's darkest moments. PODCAST MERCH Get your very own Tees, Hoodies, on-set water bottles, mugs and more on our Creator Spring store. COURSES Want to learn how to finish your film? Take our POST PRODUCTION COURSE at Cutting Room Info. PATREONBig thank you to:Serena GardnerMark HammettLee HutchingsMarli J MonroeKaren NewmanWant your name in the show notes or some great bonus material on filmmaking? Join our Patreon for bonus episodes, industry survival guides and feedback on your film projects! SUPPORT THE PODCASTCheck out our full episode archive on how to make films at TheFilmmakersPodcast.com CREDITSThe Filmmakers Podcast is written, edited and produced by Giles Alderson @gilesaldersonLogo and Banner Art by Lois Creative Theme Music by John J. Harvey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We are taking a break from the creative side this week to get straight into the hard reality of the industry: the money. If you want to make films, you need to understand how the numbers work. I’m joined in my hotel room in Bulgaria by Tony Cook and Zak Fanning to completely demystify the business of independent film finance. Tony and Zak have just launched their new production banner, Cult Films, and they break down exactly how they are structuring the company, how they are actively pitching private investors and how they utilise UK tax credits to de-risk independent filmmaking. 🎬 IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: Company Structure: Why Tony and Zak chose to establish a parent production company (Cult Films) that manages individual Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) for each film, rather than relying on one messy, overarching entity. SEIS and EIS Explained: A rigorous breakdown of the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) and the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS)—and exactly how these government initiatives offer massive tax relief to private investors willing to back your film. The Power of the AVEC: How the newly reformed Audio-Visual Expenditure Credit (AVEC) allows filmmakers to claim back a significant percentage of their UK spend, and why understanding this is crucial to cashflowing your indie. The Recoupment Waterfall: The stark reality of the ROI. We break down the exact percentages and the strict order in which investors, the production company, and the creative team actually see their money back (or don't) after a sale. The BFI Network Reality: A candid conversation on public funding, the complexities of BFI applications, and the importance of remembering that public money should be seen as a stepping stone rather than a complete financial strategy. PODCAST MERCH Get your very own Tees, Hoodies, on-set water bottles, mugs and more on our Creator Spring store. COURSES Want to learn how to finish your film? Take our POST PRODUCTION COURSE at Cutting Room Info. PATREON Big thank you to: Serena Gardner Mark Hammett Lee Hutchings Marli J Monroe Karen Newman Want your name in the show notes or some great bonus material on filmmaking? Join our Patreon for bonus episodes, industry survival guides and feedback on your film projects! SUPPORT THE PODCAST Check out our full episode archive on how to make films at TheFilmmakersPodcast.com CREDITS The Filmmakers Podcast is written, edited and produced by Giles Alderson @gilesalderson Logo and Banner Art by Lois Creative Theme Music by John J. Harvey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
While Giles is away working on his own feature, the brilliant Conor Boru has stepped into his shoes to co-host (and edit) alongside Dom Lenoir, and they have delivered an absolute belter of an episode. Today, the lads sit down with director and co-writer Brian Duffield and author and co-writer Daniel Kraus to dig into their staggering new survival thriller, Whalefall. The film, starring Austin Abrams and Josh Brolin, takes a terrifying concept—a scuba diver swallowed alive by a 60-ton sperm whale—and turns it into a masterclass in tension, technical filmmaking and emotional storytelling. Brian and Daniel get right into the weeds of how you construct a cinematic, 90-minute thriller inside a pitch-black, scientifically accurate biological setting. 🎬 IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: The Viral Spark: How a viral video of kayakers getting caught in a humpback whale's mouth inspired Daniel to dive into the research of whether a sperm whale could actually swallow a human. Creative Constraints: The absolute joy and torture of writing a script that is entirely restricted by the physical, anatomical boundaries of a real whale. The Father-Son Dynamic: Balancing a popcorn thriller with the messy, complex reality of a broken family, and using the belly of the beast to force a character to face his demons. Visualising the Pitch Black: How Brian and his team took an incredibly claustrophobic, dark environment and made it visually dynamic for the big screen without losing the realism. PODCAST MERCH Get your very own Tees, Hoodies, on-set water bottles, mugs and more on our Creator Spring store. COURSES Want to learn how to finish your film? Take our POST PRODUCTION COURSE at Cutting Room Info. PATREON Big thank you to: Serena Gardner Mark Hammett Lee Hutchings Marli J Monroe Karen Newman Want your name in the show notes or some great bonus material on filmmaking? Join our Patreon for bonus episodes, industry survival guides and feedback on your film projects! SUPPORT THE PODCAST Check out our full episode archive on how to make films at TheFilmmakersPodcast.com CREDITS The Filmmakers Podcast is written, edited and produced by Giles Alderson @gilesalderson Logo and Banner Art by Lois Creative Theme Music by John J. Harvey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In the inaugural episode of our brand new series, The Academy Masterclasses, Dom Lenoir sits down with director, writer and producer Jennifer Peedom and actress Thinley Lhamo to discuss the monumental task of bringing the true story of Tenzing to the big screen. Jen shares how her 23-year history with the Sherpa community in the Himalayas laid the groundwork for this epic feature. Together, they explore the complexities of adapting the historic Everest ascent, the logistical challenge of shooting at 3,500 metres in New Zealand and the vital importance of cultural authenticity on a massive set. 🎬 IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: Finding the Truth: How Jen approached the immense responsibility of telling a culturally specific story as a white Australian filmmaker by relying heavily on Sherpa cultural consultants like Dr. Lhakpa. The Audition Process: Thinley breaks down her journey to landing the role of Dawa, starting with a camera test in Nepal. Mountain Logistics: The brutal realities of filming at 3,500 metres altitude in New Zealand and creating a believable, immersive physical environment. Sonic Landscapes: Building the intricate sound design of the film, from wind chimes and baby yaks to the roaring elements of the mountain. Directing Performance: The collaborative push and pull between the director, actors and acting coach Miranda Harcourt to strip away theatricality and find true naturalism on set. PODCAST MERCH Get your very own Tees, Hoodies, on-set water bottles, mugs and more MERCH. https://my-store-11604768.creator-spring.com/ COURSES Want to learn how to finish your film? Take our POST PRODUCTION COURSE https://cuttingroom.info/post-production-demystified/ PATREON Big thank you to: Serena Gardner Mark Hammett Lee Hutchings Marli J Monroe Karen Newman Want your name in the show notes or some great bonus material on filmmaking? Join our Patreon for bonus episodes, industry survival guides and feedback on your film projects! https://www.patreon.com/thefilmmakerspodcast SUPPORT THE PODCAST Check out our full episode archive on how to make films at TheFilmmakersPodcast.com CREDITS The Filmmakers Podcast is written, edited and produced by Giles Alderson @gilesalderson Logo and Banner Art by Lois Creative Theme Music by John J. Harvey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Filmmakers, welcome to the podcast! We've got a brilliant episode for you today. Dom Lenoir and Conor Boru are sitting down with the incredibly talented Kitao Sakurai. You probably know Kitao's work as the regular director of The Eric Andre Show and the hit film Bad Trip, but he's here to talk about his massive upcoming project: directing the live-action Street Fighter movie! Kitao dives deep into what it's like adapting such an iconic game, managing a huge ensemble cast, and how his background in comedy and chaotic TV perfectly prepared him for bringing Street Fighter to life. It's a fascinating look at the pressures and the creative process behind a major studio film. Let's get into it!" Show Notes Title: Directing Street Fighter: Kitao Sakurai on Adapting a Video Game Legend In this episode, Dom Lenoir and Conor Boru are joined by director Kitao Sakurai. They discuss his transition from the wonderfully chaotic world of The Eric Andre Show to taking the helm of Legendary and Capcom's highly anticipated live-action Street Fighter movie, set for release in October 2026. 🎬 IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: From Comedy to Action: How Kitao's background directing The Eric Andre Show and Bad Trip translates to the world of big-budget action. Approaching an Icon: The pressure and excitement of adapting Street Fighter, one of the most successful video game franchises of all time. World-Building: Translating the vibrant, larger-than-life aesthetic of the games into a live-action feature film. The Cast: Working with a massive ensemble, including Noah Centineo, Andrew Koji, and Jason Momoa. Pitching and Collaboration: Kitao’s process for pitching his vision to the studios and collaborating with a massive team to bring the project to life. 🔔 Subscribe to the TFP YouTube Channel for full video interviews every week! 🎧 Listen to the audio version on Apple Podcasts & Spotify. 👕 Get your official TFP on-set gear: TheFilmmakersPodcast.com Kitao Sakurai, Street Fighter movie, Street Fighter 2026, Eric Andre Show, Bad Trip, video game movies, directing action, Dom Lenoir, Conor Boru, The Filmmakers Podcast, Noah Centineo, Jason Momoa, film directing, behind the scenes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome back to the podcast! This week, host Dom sits down with returning guest and powerhouse filmmaker David Ayer (Fury, End of Watch, Training Day, The Beekeeper) to break down his gripping new survival thriller, Heart of the Beast. Reuniting with his Fury leading man Brad Pitt, Heart of the Beast follows a former Navy SEAL and his retired combat dog fighting for survival after a violent plane crash deep in the Alaskan wilderness. David pulls back the curtain on the grueling physical realities of the shoot and how he keeps high-concept studio movies grounded in raw human truth. 🎬 IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: The Fury Reunion: How David and Brad Pitt evolved their creative shorthand from the muddy trenches of World War II to the freezing isolation of the wilderness. Shooting in the Elements: The logistical and physical challenges of taking a crew into remote, unforgiving terrain while keeping the camera package nimble. Directing Visceral Survival: How to strip dialogue back to the bone and drive ninety minutes of tension through physical action, environment and sound design. Working with Animals on Set: The realities of blocking and pacing high-stakes dramatic and action beats around a retired combat dog. Navigating the Studio System: David shares candid advice on protecting your directorial voice, delivering commercial thrills and surviving the Hollywood machine. 🎧 CATCH UP ON RECENT EPISODES: Extra Geography: Molly Manners (One Day) & Sarah Brocklehurst (The Outrun) on Sundance, Teenage Obsession & Feature Debuts. Directing the Silence: George MacKay on Sense and Sensibility, Ripped Trousers & Trusting the Director. Adapting Austen: Georgia Oakley & Fiona Shaw on 35mm Film, Subverting Costumes & Sense and Sensibility. Bad Apples: Jonatan Etzler on 17 Shorts, Character Arcs & Directing Saoirse Ronan. 📲 SUPPORT THE PODCAST & CALL TO ACTION: 🎥 Watch on YouTube: Head over to the TFP YouTube Channel to watch the full video interview with Dom and David Ayer, and don't forget to subscribe! 🎧 Subscribe & Review: If you got value from today’s episode, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps us reach more filmmakers and send the elevator back down. 👕 Merch & Courses: Grab your on-set podcast gear, check out our filmmaking courses and explore hundreds of archived episodes at TheFilmmakersPodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Get tickets for SESSIONS Festival Screening at LIFF this Friday 9th Oct at Genesis Cinema in London here: https://genesiscinema.co.uk/event/114469 Filmmakers, welcome back to the podcast! Today we have an absolute treat for you, especially if you love fiercely authentic, character-driven British cinema. We are sitting down with BAFTA-winning director Molly Manners and powerhouse producer Sarah Brocklehurst to talk about their brilliant new coming-of-age film, Extra Geography, which is out in UK cinemas right now via Vertigo Releasing. Now, you will definitely know Molly’s work from directing the massive Netflix global hit One Day, as well as the BAFTA-winning series In My Skin. Extra Geography marks her feature film directorial debut, and what a debut it is. Alongside her, we are thrilled to welcome back to the pod the founder of Brock Media, Sarah Brocklehurst—the producer behind phenomenal indies like Animals, Black Pond and the multi-BIFA-nominated The Outrun. Extra Geography premiered to sold-out crowds at Sundance earlier this year and has been sitting comfortably at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. Written by Miriam Battye and adapted from a short story by Rose Tremain, the film follows two teenage best friends at an English girls' boarding school who launch a summer project to fall in love with the very next person they see. In today's chat, Molly and Sarah break down the transition from high-end television to indie features, the art of expanding a short story into a ninety-minute script and how they discovered incredible newcomers Marni Duggan and Galaxie Clear to anchor the film. Also, remember that you can watch the full video version of this interview over on our TFP YouTube Channel—so make sure you head over there and hit subscribe! Let’s dive straight in. Enjoy the episode!" Title: Directing Extra Geography: Molly Manners & Sarah Brocklehurst on Sundance, Teenage Obsession & Feature Debuts On this week's episode, we are joined by BAFTA-winning director Molly Manners (One Day, In My Skin) and acclaimed producer Sarah Brocklehurst (The Outrun, Animals) to break down their critically acclaimed new coming-of-age drama, Extra Geography. Fresh off a sold-out run at the Sundance Film Festival and a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, Molly and Sarah take us behind the scenes of bringing Miriam Battye’s sharp, funny and deeply relatable screenplay to the big screen. 🎬 IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: The TV to Feature Leap: Molly discusses stepping onto the set of her debut feature film after directing massive television hits like Netflix's One Day. Adapting Short Fiction: How Sarah and screenwriter Miriam Battye took Rose Tremain’s original short story and expanded the world into a full feature arc without losing its intimacy. Finding the Leads: The casting process behind discovering newcomers Marni Duggan and Galaxie Clear, and how to build raw, unbreakable teenage chemistry alongside Alice Englert. Producing Authentic British Indies: Sarah shares insights into packaging, financing and championing distinct female-led stories in today’s independent market. Capturing the Boarding School Bubble: How the production design, cinematography and pacing worked together to capture the claustrophobic, intoxicating intensity of teenage friendships. Extra Geography is out in UK cinemas now via Vertigo Releasing. 🎧 CATCH UP ON RECENT EPISODES: Directing the Silence: George MacKay on Sense and Sensibility, Ripped Trousers & Trusting the Director. Adapting Austen: Georgia Oakley & Fiona Shaw on 35mm Film, Subverting Costumes & Sense and Sensibility. Bad Apples: Jonatan Etzler on 17 Shorts, Character Arcs & Directing Saoirse Ronan. The Business of Film Special: The Hidden UK Indie Boom, Sales Agents & Surviving the Box Office Market. ALL AT thefilmmakerspodcast.com 📲 SUPPORT THE PODCAST & CALL TO ACTION: 🎥 Watch on YouTube: Head over to the TFP YouTube Channel to watch the full video interview with Molly and Sarah, and don't forget to subscribe! 🎧 Subscribe & Review: If you got value from today’s episode, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps us reach more filmmakers and send the elevator back down. 👕 Merch & Courses: Grab your on-set podcast gear, check out our Post Production Demystified course and explore our full archive at TheFilmmakersPodcast.com. 📝 Episode Description (Show Notes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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A podcast about how to make film and TV by filmmakers who actually make them. Interviewing guests from the film-making world from Indie film to Hollywood and everything in between. Hosts Giles Alderson (The Dare), Dom Lenoir (Winter Ridge), Lucinda Rhodes Thakrar (Wolves of War), Tori & Matthew Butler-Hart (Two Down), Phil Hawkins (Prancer: A Christmas Tale), Stephen Follows (Film Data Analyst), Christian James (Fanged Up), Andy Rodger (Three Day Millionaire) and many others explore the world behind-the-scenes of making films and TV, talking to the actors, writers, directors and producers who make them!
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