What does an agent do, and how do they help their client reach that dream of their first sale? In our latest episode, Ryan talks with David Boxerbaum (Hollywood Agent and Partner at Verve) to illuminate that process.
We also discuss David’s high-profile deals, including recent bidding wars for “Occupant” which ended in a high 6 figure sale to New Line, and “I Am Not Alone” which sold to Netflix in another high-six-figure deal.
Chris and Zeek are the writer/director team behind PROSPECT, an indie sci-fi film that broke through the ceiling of its budget and has since gone on to find its audience on streaming.
Even though Chris and Zeek were happy with their film, they couldn’t help but think that there must be a better way to get a budget for their film while retaining creative control and including the wider community around the project. With the birth of NFTs, they think they have found that answer.
Today, Ryan chats with the filmmakers about their new venture with The Fringe and how it might change how films are made forever.
How do you make a small budget seem large or few resources seem plentiful? That is what Ryan and Colin Levy discuss in this latest episode. Colin is no stranger to making an indie budget look like a Hollywood blockbuster. His short film, Skywatch stands shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the biggest films you’ve seen, all done with far fewer resources than you’d think.
Scott Glassgold is a Manager and Producer with well over a decade of experience. After getting his start at New Line Cinema and Disney, Scott Founded Ground Control, an innovative Management, and Production company. From there, he’s gone on to nurture several short films and initial ideas to final feature films – such as Prospect and The Beyond.
Recently Scott has driven several high-profile deals like his recent 7 figure sale of “My Wife and I Bought a Ranch” to Netflix,
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The importance of the First Assistant Director can’t be understated. They set the tone for the crew, keep the production on schedule, and are one of the closest allies of the director.
And this is the role Hristo Dimitrov fills with ease. With films like Rambo: Last Blood, Hunter Killer, Paul, Apostle of Christ, and the recent Netflix original Concrete Cowboy on his resume, it’s safe to say that Hristo is no stranger to the ins and outs of the process.
Today Ryan chats with Hristo about the responsibilities and challenges a 1st AD faces during the making of a feature film.
Sam Hargrave is the director behind the new Netflix original, Extraction, starring Chris Hemsworth.
While Extraction is Sam’s first feature as a director, it’s far from his first experience with action. With credits in Atomic Blonde, Winter Soldier, Civil War, Infinity War, and End Game, Sam has been a part of creating some of the most exciting action of the last 10 years.
In this episode, Sam talks about his path to the director’s chair and how he handles action to create those visceral gut-punch-style action sequences.
Make your film! That is what drives the team behind the new comedy FAITH BASED. From shooting with iPhones in their living rooms, to what it ultimately became—a full-blown feature film with an impressive cast (Jason Alexander, Lance Riddick, and David Koechner, just to name a few). Vincent Masciale, Luke Barnett, and Tanner Thomason were going to make this film, come “hell” or high water.
Now with an October 9th release date and a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, the guys have show that with a little luck and a whole lot of passion and talent, you can make your dream project happen.
There’s perhaps no greater excitement for an aspiring filmmaker than to have their directorial debut receive mass acclaim and distribution. Relic is the directorial debut of Japanese-Australian writer/director filmmaker, Natalie Erika James. It’s a horror film anchored by its deeply emotional and honest themes, and masterfully co-written and directed by James.
Released theatrically in drive-ins, and now available across most major streaming platforms, you’d never guess that Relic is Natalie’s first outing as a feature writer/director. In the episode of the Film Riot podcast, fresh off the experience of making the film, Natalie meets with Ryan to discuss her experience as a first-time writer/director, working with actors, and why she leaned into the horror genre to tell this specific and personal story.
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As the cinematographer for such beautiful work as A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Manchester by the Sea, and I Know This Much is True, Jody Lee Lipes brings an emotional honesty to all his work.
Of course, every element within the filmmaking process is a part of delivering on that honesty, with arguably two of the most important aspects being the performance and cinematography. Those two elements work together in a creative dance – if one is out of step with the other, the intention won’t land and the emotional impact would be lost. Imagine the scene in Contagion where Matt Damon’s character learns his wife has died, but with constant dolly moves and lens flares.
That emotional honesty is something that Jody pulls off with ease. Today he and Ryan chat about leaning into that meaning and honesty, working with technically difficult scenes (like the twinning in his latest HBO show), and what made him want to be a filmmaker.
What is “your voice”? Should you start with theme, character, a concept? So many questions flood your brain when you sit down to write, especially when first starting out.
Today Ryan chats with the incredible Dayna Lynne North (Writer, Showrunner, and Executive Producer for properties like Veronica Mars, and most recently Insecure for HBO). Ryan and Dayna dive into what your voice is, how she gets started on a project, and what guides her through the writing process.
