The No Film School Podcast

• The Secret to a Calm Film Set with Director Mimi Cave

  Director Mimi Cave joins No Film School’s GG Hawkins and guest co-host Madison Lanesey for a candid conversation about her path from dance to directing, maintaining artistic vision in the studio system, and fostering a grounded and collaborative atmosphere on set. Mimi opens up about the emotional rollercoaster of filmmaking, the practical steps she takes to craft immersive visual tones, and how she cultivates trust with her actors and crew. The episode offers a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes processes of her features Fresh and Holland, along with valuable insights for emerging filmmakers. In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins, guest co-host Madison Lanesey, and guest Mimi Cave discuss... Mimi’s creative origins in dance and how it led her into filmmaking The challenges and strategies of transitioning from indie to studio features Post-feature emotional “off-boarding” and how to manage the crash Establishing a calm and collaborative environment on set How she works with actors and tailors her directing approach to each personality Maintaining creative control within the studio system The importance of curiosity, asking questions, and embracing not knowing Building strong collaborative relationships with DPs, editors, and producers Memorable Quotes: "You get addicted to that... being needed all day is really amazing." "Take everything two days at a time... Anything after that's going to change anyways." "I walked into the set and I was like, you could hear a pin drop... it was so peaceful." "Some of the best filmmakers ever are some of the most unique, nerdy, freaky, out there people." Guest: Mimi Cave Resources: Fresh – Available on Hulu Holland – Available on Amazon Prime Video 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: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Why Playing It Safe Will Ruin Your Movie — Blumhouse Hit Director Christopher Landon on Drop

  Writer-director Christopher Landon joins No Film School’s GG Hawkins to discuss his newest film Drop, a sharp, suspenseful thriller starring Meghann Fahy. Known for genre-bending films like Happy Death Day, Freaky, and We Have a Ghost, Landon dives deep into his evolution as a filmmaker, how he overcame early failures, the importance of authenticity in storytelling, and the meticulous craft behind building tension. Landon also opens up about creating a supportive environment on set, casting with intuition, and how trusting his gut has shaped his career. In this episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins and guest Christopher Landon discuss: How Christopher Landon’s love of horror movies began as a kid Early career failures and how they became pivotal learning moments Writing and selling Disturbia and joining the Paranormal Activity franchise The "feel-good horror" tone he discovered with Happy Death Day How Drop evolved from script to final film Shooting in sequence to elevate performances The importance of a supportive, no-asshole policy set How trusting his gut guides casting, shooting, and script decisions Advice for emerging filmmakers working within the studio system Memorable Quotes: "Failure is the greatest teacher." "If it ain’t on the page, it ain’t on the stage." "Casting is the one thing where I tune everybody out. I have to know it in my marrow." "Hollywood is seductive — don't chase the shiny things." Guest: Christopher Landon Resources: The 7 Best Plot Twists of All Time 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: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• What They Don’t Tell You About Editing a Feature with 'Sacramento' Editor

  What don't they tell you? They you gotta take a break! In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins and Jason Hellerman sit down with editor Max Goldblatt, who cut the heartfelt and hilarious indie road trip film Sacramento. Directed by Michael Angarano and starring Michael Cera, Kristen Stewart, and Maya Erskine, the film made waves at Tribeca and has since garnered a devoted following. Max shares how he got into editing, his long-time collaboration with Angarano, and offers invaluable insight into the nuanced craft of post-production—especially on a tight budget and timeline. In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins and guest Max Goldblatt discuss... How Max and director Michael Angarano formed their creative bond through music The challenges and victories of licensing a Rolling Stones song for an indie film Editorial techniques like split compositions and how they elevate performance Why taking breaks during the edit can lead to better storytelling Max’s unconventional path into editing and the moment he almost walked away from filmmaking The balance between instinct and structure when cutting complex character scenes Memorable Quotes: “Michael kind of broke the cardinal rule of putting a song in the script.” “Sometimes there's just this alchemy when you choose something maybe almost at random.” “I was about to quit trying to pursue film period before I was connected with Mike Angarano.” “Sometimes it takes feedback or questions that people have about characters, and you realize that the answer was there all along.” Guests: Max Goldblatt Resources: Sacramento on IMDb Michael Angarano’s first film, Avenues Robert Schwartzman's film The Argument Jason Hellerman's article on "Man on a Mission" stories 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: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• How Real Is STAY IN LA? Plus Sundance DPs on Landing Jobs & Getting Shots

  In this episode, GG Hawkins and Jason Hellerman tackle the timely question of whether production in Los Angeles is truly back, despite rising costs and the lure of tax incentives elsewhere. They also host a special Sundance DP Roundtable, featuring cinematographers from some of the festival's most talked-about films. These filmmakers share the stories of how they landed their gigs, the creative and technical choices behind their work, and how shooting on location posed unique challenges and opportunities. From the reality of Stay in LA initiatives to working with first-time directors and navigating quick turnarounds or even war-related production pivots, this episode is a deep dive into the craft and chaos of cinematography today. In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins, Jason Hellerman, and guests discuss... The current state of film production in Los Angeles and whether it’s really “back” Tax incentives drawing productions to places like Ireland, Canada, and Texas The emotional and practical toll of filming far from home Behind-the-scenes challenges of indie productions and festival films How DPs landed their Sundance jobs and their strategies for collaboration with directors Favorite gear, lenses, and technical decisions from Sundance cinematographers Working with non-actors, shooting in unpredictable locations, and reacting in real time Tools, workflows, and prep habits DPs rely on when heading into production Guests: Adolpho Veloso – DP of Train Dreams Mia Cioffi Henry – DP of Sorry, Baby Ethan Palmer – DP of Plainclothes Christopher Aoun – DP of All That's Left of You Memorable Quotes: "I always say prepping like that is like studying for an exam, and then it’s like not an open book test.” "You either are not going to sleep because you're working long hours, or because you're anxious because you're not working." "Some of the best stuff that's come my way has been very low budget." Resources: California’s “Stay in LA” push for local production The new hubs becoming “Hollywood” around the world 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: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Filmmaker’s Guide to SXSW: Tips, Takeaways & Tough Lessons

  No Film School founder and director Ryan Koo flips the script in this special episode, interviewing regular podcast host GG Hawkins about the world premiere of her feature film I Really Love My Husband at the 2025 SXSW Film Festival. GG shares her whirlwind experience of showcasing her first feature, from managing the chaos of festival logistics and marketing, to the overwhelming response from audiences and peers alike. This episode offers a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it’s really like to premiere at a major festival, how to prepare, and what filmmakers can learn to maximize their presence. In this episode, No Film School's Ryan Koo and GG Hawkins discuss... GG’s emotional and logistical journey leading up to the world premiere of her film How SXSW’s ticketing and badge system works—and how to prep for packed screenings Tips for marketing your film and working with PR ahead of a major festival The importance of pacing, wardrobe strategy, and managing energy during festival week Lessons learned from networking, screenings, and audience feedback A broader look at SXSW as a convergence of film, tech, and immersive media, including the Apple Vision Pro Memorable Quotes: "One of the best things you can do for yourself is have your family come to the second and third screening." (05:49) "If you make a movie and nobody sees it, what’s the point?" (08:32) "Don’t get a perm before your premiere." (17:01) "I didn't know I would be in sort of like a therapy support situation, which is awesome that the movie resonated with folks that way." (24:00) "This is the truest form for what it'll be in the long game—people who don't know me are going to sit back and watch and not know what's going to happen." (28:45) Resources: The Cameras Behind the Films of SXSW 2025 How to Shoot Your Feature in Three Months or Less Everything You Need to Know About Editing and Post-Production 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: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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