Let's Shoot! with Pete Chatmon

Latest Episodes:

Episode 31: Dan Attias On Directing Great Television Jan 26, 2022

Show notes

DGA Award-winning Dan Attias is one of the most accomplished and respected Directors working in television today. You've likely marveled at his creative choices on episodes of "Homeland", "Billions", "The Wire", "The Americans", "The Sopranos", and more. He's also written the book, "Directing Great Television: Inside TV's Golden Age". On this episode, Dan joins Pete to talk about facing the blank page, taking responsibility for being the storyteller, acknowledging the many ways you can approach a story, his guiding principals for each stage of filmmaking and more…
SHOW NOTES:
(00:00:00- 00:06:00) -- Pete’s Intro
(00:06:00- 00:12:35) -- What Makes A Good Story?
(00:12:35- 00:20:30) —The Film That Impacted You & Pushed Your Filmmaking Agenda
(00:20:30- 00:27:45) —The Most Important Question To Ask Yourself
(00:27:45- 00:34:04) —Early Stages, From Acting to AD
(00:34:04- 00:34:59) —“Transitions: A Directors Journey And Motivational Handbook” Promo
(00:34:59- 00:46:00) —Top 3 Takeaways From Being An Assistant Director
(00:46:00- 00:51:15) -- Acknowledging The Many Ways To Approach A Story
(00:51:15- 00:58:50) -- Transitioning To Episodic Directing
(00:58:50- 01:03:50) — Getting Into Comedy Directing
(01:03:50- 01:07:20) — Connection Between Features and Premium Cable
(01:07:20- 01:12:00) — Film vs. Digital Filmmaking
(01:12:00- 01:16:00) — Taking Responsibility For Being The Storyteller
(01:16:00- 01:19:24) — The Gift of Directing
(01:19:24- 01:29:40) — Guiding Principal For Prep, Production, and Post
(01:29:40- 01:33:30) - Lightning Round Questions
(01:33:30- 01:35:02) - Petes Outro
*** Watch on YouTube: https://bit.ly/37iekw1
*** Get your Director's merch: https://www.drctr.video/

Episode 30: Pete's New Book "Transitions" Is Now Available! Jan 03, 2022

Show notes

Our last episode was in May of 2021 but we're back to update you on a helluva year and just what Pete's been up to. We've also got the complete breakdown on Pete's new book, "Transitions: A Director's Journey + Motivational Handbook."
Get Your Copy Of TRANSITIONS:
https://www.amazon.com/Transitions-Directors-Journey-Motivational-Handbook/dp/161593331X
Season 2 will continue with new episodes coming soon!

Episode 29: Bryan Edward Hill On The Writer's Journey from Screenplays to Novels to Comic Books May 12, 2021

Show notes

Writing "The Russian Specialist" for Dolph Lundgren was a great break, but it wasn’t until Bryan began writing novels and comics like "7 Days From Hell", "Batman and The Outsiders", and ‘Chariot’ that his career took off. Just this week came the announcement of his "Bitter Root" adaptation, to be directed by Regina King. On this episode, Bryan joins Pete to talk about the challenge that came with being a Black man breaking into screenplay writing, the importance of rebranding and understanding the “why?”, the pitch process, lessons learned from working with comics, his upcoming projects and more…
SHOW NOTES:
(00:00:00- 00:04:15) -- Pete’s Intro
(00:04:15- 00:12:00) -- Early Interests In Film
(00:12:00- 00:22:40) —Expanding The Black Narrative
(00:22:40- 00:30:00) —Writing ‘The Russian Specialist’ In Spain
(00:30:00- 00:36:40) —Being Vulnerable And Taping Into Emotions As A Writer
(00:36:40- 00:41:00) —Moving To Hollywood And Staying Determined
(00:41:00- 00:47:25) —Branding And Getting Into Comics
(00:47:25- 00:48:20) -- “Transitions: A Directors Journey And Motivational Handbook” Promo
(00:48:20- 01:03:35) -- The “Pitch” Process
(01:03:35- 01:08:20) — Knowing And Understanding The “Why?”
(01:08:20- 01:12:10) — Properly Presenting Yourself On Socials
(01:12:10- 01:14:15) — Lessons Learned From Working With Comics
(01:14:15- 01:18:15) — Upcoming Projects
(01:18:15- 01:26:10) — Advice For Directors And Being Genuine
(01:26:10- 01:28:18) — Pete’s Outro
*** Watch on YouTube: https://bit.ly/37iekw1
*** Get your Director's merch: https://www.drctr.video/

Episode 28: Spencer Garrett On His Job As An Actor, HBO's "Untitled Lakers Project" and more... May 05, 2021

Show notes

Spencer Garrett may have “grown up in the green room” but he is still perfecting his craft with each new performance from "Star Trek" and "Insecure" to "Once Upon a Time In Hollywood". On this episode, Spencer joins Pete to discuss his most memorable turning points, the challenge of manufacturing moments when auditioning, why you should always be over-prepared, the “breakdown” process and more…
SHOW NOTES:
(00:00:00- 00:10:45) -- Pete’s Intro
(00:10:45- 00:13:20) -- Defining Your Job As An Actor
(00:13:20- 00:21:12) -- Growing Up In The Green Room
(00:21:12- 00:26:46) —Early Training As An Actor
(00:26:46- 00:32:10) —Landing Roles And Going From TV To Film
(00:32:10- 00:36:55) —Most Memorable Moment Early On
(00:36:55- 00:45:10) —Biggest Turning Point As An Actor
(00:45:10- 00:48:10) -- Constantly Learning and Evolving In Your Craft
(00:48:10- 00:49:05) — “Transitions: A Directors Journey And Motivational Handbook” Promo
(00:49:05- 00:57:13) -- Describing The “Breakdown” Process
(00:57:13- 01:04:40) — Self Tapes And Auditioning
(01:04:40- 01:09:20) — What Pete Looks For In Actors Auditioning
(01:09:20- 01:15:00) — Keeping An Open Mind When Working With Actors
(01:15:00- 01:19:00) — Advice For Directors From An Actor
(01:19:00- 01:24:00) — Special Projects and Fundraising
(01:24:00- 01:32:00) — Progressive Storytelling
(01:32:00- 01:39:20) — Being Overprepared
(01:39:20- 01:41:31) — Pete’s Outro
*** Watch on YouTube: https://bit.ly/37iekw1
*** Get your Director's merch: https://www.drctr.video/

Episode 27: Pete Chatmon On The Psychology And Technique Of Directing May 01, 2021

Show notes

On this special Craft Episode, Pete reviews a presentation he put together in 2011 that describes the five stages of production and their guiding principals. With commentary based on what he's learned over the past ten years, Pete discusses the demands on Directors, being honest and using motivation driven direction with talent, recommended readings, and more…
SHOW NOTES:
(00:00:00- 00:04:20) -- Pete’s Intro
(00:04:20- 00:06:40) -- Figuring Out Your “Why”
(00:06:40- 00:10:22) -- Types Of Directors
(00:10:22- 00:11:25) —Demands Of The Director
(00:11:25- 00:14:00) —Five Stages Of Production
(00:14:00- 00:15:30) —Maximizing Development
(00:15:30- 00:24:15) —Guiding Principles For Stages One And Two
(00:24:15- 00:27:17) -- Hiring Department Heads
(00:27:17- 00:29:43) — Most Important Moment Theory
(00:29:43- 00:30:55) -- Taking Advantage Of Rehearsals
(00:30:55- 00:33:22) — Guiding Principals For Stage Three
(00:33:22- 00:34:20) — “Transitions: A Directors Journey And Motivational Handbook” Promo
(00:34:20- 00:38:05) — Commanders Intent
(00:38:05- 00:41:05) — Directing Talent
(00:41:05- 00:43:05) — Making The Day
(00:43:05- 00:44:20) — Commitment
(00:44:20- 00:48:55) — Guiding Principals For Stages Four And Five
(00:48:55- 00:50:20) — Recommended Reads/Books
(00:50:20- 00:54:50) — Who Will You Be?
(00:54:50- 00:55:39) — Pete’s Outro
*** Watch on YouTube: https://bit.ly/37iekw1
*** Get your Director's merch: https://www.drctr.video/

Episode 26: Carl Seaton On Getting Comfortable With Nervousness Apr 21, 2021

Show notes

Originally from Chicago, Carl Seaton learned lessons as an indie filmmaker that have become his biggest superpower as a television Director ("Snowfall", "Batwoman", "The Chi", and more.) On this episode, Carl and Pete get together to discuss their most memorable Murphy’s Law moments, the keys to shadowing a Director on set, the importance of reinvestment, being an eternal student and more…
SHOW NOTES:
(00:00:00- 00:07:15) -- Pete’s Intro And Updates
(00:07:15- 00:11:15) -- Introducing Carl Seaton
(00:11:15- 00:14:40) —Growing Up In Chicago And Getting Into Film
(00:14:40- 00:17:03) —Murphy’s Law Moments And Problem Solving
(00:17:03- 00:22:30) —How Was Your First Film Received?
(00:22:30- 00:26:30) —Skills Learned From Being An Indie Filmmaker
(00:26:30- 00:29:25) -- Post “One Week” And Learning Lessons
(00:29:25- 00:33:33) — Being An Eternal Student Of The Industry
(00:33:33- 00:39:55) -- Working With Difficult Talent On Set
(00:39:55- 00:40:50) — “Transitions: A Directors Journey And Motivational Handbook” Promo
(00:40:50- 00:45:50) — Early Projects Post Los Angeles Move
(00:45:50- 00:51:25) — Risk Taking And Reinvesting
(00:51:25- 00:53:50) — Discovering The Art Of Storytelling
(00:53:50- 00:58:15) — Early Career Opportunities And Studying
(00:58:15- 01:01:00) — Shadowing Directors On Set
(01:01:00- 01:03:50) — First Time On A New Set
(01:03:50- 01:07:05) — Prepping Smarter And Raising The Bar
(01:07:05- 01:10:10) — Being The First Audience Member
(01:10:10- 01:11:20) — New Goals And Upcoming Opportunities
(01:11:20- 01:19:30) — Lightning Round Questions
(01:19:30- 01:20:58) — Pete’s Outro
*** Watch on YouTube: https://bit.ly/37iekw1
*** Get your Director's merch: https://www.drctr.video/

Episode 25: Mike Berlucchi On "Mythic Quest", "You're The Worst", and Visual Storytelling Apr 14, 2021

Show notes

In an industry built upon long hours and cramped quarters, one of the most important things you can do to prepare for your career is to become the ultimate “dinner guest.” On this episode, Mike joins Pete to talk about how he got his first credit as a cinematographer (in the days before "Mythic Quest" and "You're The Worst",) the logistics that go into shooting with a crane, the difference between working on an already established show vs. a pilot, and more…
SHOW NOTES:
(00:00:00- 00:03:25) -- Pete’s Intro
(00:03:25- 00:07:45) -- Answering Mail Bag Questions
(00:07:45- 00:08:50) -- Introducing Mike Berlucchi
(00:08:50- 00:15:50) —What Is Your “Kill Your Baby” Shot?
(00:15:50- 00:22:00) —Operating And Shooting With A Crane
(00:22:00- 00:28:45) —Childhood And Finding Interest In Film
(00:28:45- 00:33:20) —First Job As A Cinematographer
(00:33:20- 00:37:20) -- Moving To New York And Working In Fine Art
(00:37:20- 00:39:10) — Biggest Take Aways From Previous Work
(00:39:10- 00:42:00) -- Getting Hired For “You’re The Worst”
(00:42:00- 00:42:55) — “Transitions: A Directors Journey And Motivational Handbook” Promo
(00:42:55- 00:44:45) — Benefits From Working In Fine Art
(00:44:45- 00:51:20) — Working On An Established vs. New Show
(00:51:20- 00:54:50) — Shooting Style Preference
(00:54:50- 00:56:50) — Working On “Mythic Quest"
(00:56:50- 01:01:30) — Tips For Getting A Start As A Cinematographer
(01:01:30- 01:03:25) — Getting Hired For Jobs Out Of Your “Style”
(01:03:25- 01:04:35) — Upcoming Projects And News
(01:04:35- 01:06:20) — Advice For Younger Self
(01:06:20- 01:09:15) — Qualities And Traits To Have In Film Industry
(01:09:15- 01:10:30) — Pete Outro
*** Watch on YouTube: https://bit.ly/37iekw1
*** Get your Director's merch: https://www.drctr.video/

Episode 24: #directorslife Apr 07, 2021

Show notes

Directing may seem like a simple task at first glance, but understanding the behind the scenes work that goes into mastering a creative position is a major step when it comes to success in the craft. In this special Business Episode, Pete Chatmon discusses what Directors make, the expenses Directors incur in order to present themselves professionally, a day in the life of a Director, and more…
SHOW NOTES:
(00:00:00- 00:05:40) -- Pete’s Intro
(00:05:40- 00:11:30) -- Understanding Directing And Shooting Styles
(00:11:30- 00:17:10) -- Who Is Getting Hired: Episodic Directing Stats
(00:17:10- 00:28:20) -- How Much Does A Director Make?
(00:28:20- 00:35:25) -- What Is Needed To Present Yourself As A Director?
(00:35:25- 00:36:25) -- “Transitions: A Directors Journey And Motivational Handbook” Promo
(00:36:25- 00:42:33) -- Who Is On A Directors “Team”?
(00:42:33- 00:45:30) -- What Is The Directors Attitude?
(00:45:30- 00:47:50) -- A Day In The Life Of A Director
(00:47:50- 00:48:34) -- Pete’s Outro

Episode 23: Nzingha Stewart On Having A Strong Vision Mar 31, 2021

Show notes

After putting together fun family performances at a young age, it didn’t take long for Nzingha Stewart to realize that she could turn her favorite pastime into a full-time career. On this episode, Nzingha sits down with Pete to discuss how she got her start as a music video director for artists including Jay-Z, the importance of not only branding yourself but also doing the work, going from guest director to producing director in television, breaking into feature films, and more…
SHOW NOTES:
(00:00:00- 00:05:20) -- Pete’s Intro
(00:05:20- 00:07:45) -- What Is Your Favorite Scene You’ve Directed?
(00:07:45- 00:13:15) -- Block Shooting And Working With The AD
(00:13:15- 00:18:20) -- Getting Into Music Video Directing
(00:18:20- 00:21:20) — Working In A Changing Music Industry
(00:21:20- 00:26:00) -- Transitioning Into TV Directing
(00:26:00- 00:28:00) — Helping A Show Runner Enhance Their Story
(00:28:00- 00:29:45) -- Giving Feedback When Working On A Feature
(00:29:45- 00:34:20) — Landing Opportunities And Taking Control
(00:34:20- 00:38:10) -- Showing Up Prepared To Share Your Vision
(00:38:10- 00:44:30) -- Branding Yourself As A Creative
(00:44:30- 00:48:50) — Upcoming Project With ‘Hello Sunshine’
(00:48:50- 00:49:45) -- “Transitions: A Directors Journey And Motivational Handbook” Promo
(00:49:45- 00:56:00) -- Staying Confident And Asking Questions
(00:56:00- 01:04:40) -- Producing Director vs. Guest Director
(01:04:40- 01:13:55) -- Lightning Round Questions
(01:13:55- 01:15:30) -- Pete’s Outro
*** Watch on YouTube: https://bit.ly/37iekw1
*** Get your Director's merch: https://www.drctr.video/

Episode 22: Matthew A. Cherry On His Journey From The NFL To The Academy Award Mar 24, 2021

Show notes

After spending three seasons in the NFL as a wide receiver, Matthew was able to identify the skills learned, and apply them throughout his journey into the entertainment industry. In this episode, Matthew A. Cherry joins Pete to discuss the time he used his lunch breaks to write over 120 music video treatments, being mentored by three of the biggest Directors in the game, the creation of his Oscar award winning animation “Hair Love”, and more…
SHOW NOTES:
(00:00:00- 00:06:15) -- Pete’s Intro
(00:06:15- 00:14:20) -- Breaking Into The Industry w/ Music Video Treatments
(00:14:20- 00:19:00) -- How Did Playing In The NFL Help You Prepare For The Film Industry?
(00:19:00- 00:22:30) -- How Did Your Mentor/Mentee Relationship With Ava DuVernay Begin?
(00:22:30- 00:25:40) — How Did Your Mentor/Mentee Relationship With Barry Jenkins Begin?
(00:25:40- 00:33:20) -- How Did Your Mentor/Mentee Relationship With Jordan Peele Begin?
(00:33:20- 00:34:15) -- “Transitions: A Directors Journey” Promo
(00:34:15- 00:40:10) -- The Creation Of “Hair Love”
(00:40:10- 00:42:00) -- Launching/Reaching Goal For Kickstarter
(00:42:00- 00:43:55) -- Getting A Book Deal
(00:43:55- 00:46:10) -- Transitioning Into Episodic Directing
(00:46:10- 00:47:30) -- Favorite Process When It Comes To Directing
(00:47:30- 00:48:50) -- Favorite Scene Directed
(00:48:50- 00:50:00) -- Adjusting and Wearing Multiple Hats For Personal Projects
(00:50:00- 00:57:40) -- Lightning Round Questions
(00:57:40- 01:01:00) -- Pete’s Outro
*** Watch on YouTube: https://bit.ly/37iekw1
*** Get your Director's merch: https://www.drctr.video/

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