The No Film School Podcast

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From Sundance to SXSW: "Fancy Dance" Director Erica Tremblay and Co-Writer Miciana Alise Mar 10, 2023

Show notes

In this episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins speaks with director Erica Tremblay and Co-Writer Miciana Alise about the film, Fancy Dance. They discuss what their writing collaboration looked like, as well as challenges they faced during filming. The film premiered at Sundance 2023 and will premiere at SXSW on March 10.

Topics discussed:

Tackling prevalent problems in indigenous communities
How Erica and Miciana met and what it was like writing the script together
Applying storytelling into different genres, platforms, and formats
Sharing breakthrough moments in complicated scenes
Realizing that one still does directing in post production
Successfully pulling off a big set piece using ingenuity and networking
Having the right people behind the scenes, who really wanted to support the project
Learning how to be a more considerate writer

Memorable Quotes

“We hope it can shine a little light on some of the struggles that Indian country has, with outside forces coming in and trying to tell us how we should be living on our sovereign land.” [5:12]
“It makes it a little less painful that you’re not just alone in these deep, dark, scary pages.” [12:29]
“There’s this symbiotic relationship of ideas and talent and knowledge that’s passing through two people, ending up on the page.” [12:43]
“The biggest thing was learning what the characters didn’t need to say….Just letting them breathe in that uncomfortable moment.” [14:56]
“Just be ferocious. You cannot hang your ego on any one scene. You can’t be precious about it.” [22:12]

Resources:

Fancy Dance

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I am Worried About Big Data and Hollywood

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Big Data in Little Hollywood Mar 09, 2023

Show notes

In today’s episode, No Film School’s Charles Haine, Jason Hellerman, and GG Hawkins discuss their concerns over the insidious ways big data is affecting hollywood. They also unpack the benefits and disadvantages to entering screenwriting contests.

We discuss:

The scary way big data is now being used in the industry
How commerce is pushing back on creativity
The best way to approach screenwriting contests
Our worries about screenwriting contests and who actually benefits from them
Feeding into the “hope machine” in order to get into the industry
An anecdote about Triangle of Sadness
Why there are no rules to convey your message when it comes to screenwriting

Memorable Quotes

“It is interesting to think about the data that’s being tracked on what you watch and where it can go…Is this something they are selling to people?” [6:40]
“In an industry that’s already shrinking…putting A.I. behind it is a little worrisome.” [8:15]
“The safest bet is not the best story.” [9:25]
“There are things other than the checkboxes that make a movie what it is.” [12:52]
“As a writer, as a director, you can use whatever you want to get your point across.” [42:20]

Resources:

Triangle of Sadness

Denver the Guilty Dog

Free Screenwriting E-book

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SXSW Preview: Should You Produce Your Festival Experience? Plus Interview with Director Ella Glendining Mar 03, 2023

Show notes

If you bring your full self to a festival, to a film, to any project, whilst helping others shine in the process, you will find your place in this industry.

In this episode, GG Hawkins speaks with director, Ella Glendining about her feature film, Is There Anybody Out There? She also speaks with cinematographers Lauretta Prevost and Laura Valladao on recent Sundance films they worked on.

We discuss:

Being a vehicle for communicating your passion
Feeling self conscious about filming oneself everyday for a documentary film
The surreal experience of having a film premiere at Sundance
Accessibility, open captioning and inclusive viewing experiences at the festival
Prioritizing everyone’s comfort in the making of a film
Figuring out how to shoot and edit a purely black and white film
Limiting air flow on set during Covid
Experiences working with nonactors
How emerging filmmakers should approach attending film festivals

Memorable Quotes

“I think anybody who’s ever felt other or left out or discriminated against, hopefully will be able to take something very powerful from the film.” [11:23]
“I didn’t really notice I was making a feature until I was in the editing suite.” [19:10]
“You must, must, must stick to your gut. Like if you absolutely know something is right, then it is.” [22:46]
“Texture is so important in black in white because you don’t have color information to help you understand the space and the depth.” [33:14]
“It’s the first time I’ve really felt like an adult here…I feel like a grown up.” [38:56]

Resources:

Find Ella on Instagram

Find Laura on Instagram

Laura’s website

Lauretta’s website

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Do We Miss Development Hell? Plus, The Last of Us Mar 02, 2023

Show notes

In today’s episode, we discuss storytelling in both the show and video game adaptation of The Last of Us.

Also, we talk about Warner Bros suing South Park and how it speaks to the frustrations creatives are experiencing in the industry.

In today’s episode, No Film School’s Charles Haine, Jason Hellerman and GG Hawkins discuss:

The things we wanted to see in a flashback episode of The Last of Us
Expecting to see more sophisticated and interesting video game adaptations in the future
Good actors versus bad actors in regards to legal contracts
The after effects of a change in studio ownership
How frustrating Hollywood is for a lot of creatives
Why development is still so important

Memorable Quotes

“The more you do this filmmaking thing, the more empathy you have with people struggling with these challenges.” [11:50]
“The problem with all flashbacks is we know what happens after.” [16:33]
“Create a writing profession where breaking in doesn’t cost you ten years of your life and you get paid no money.” [37:10]

Resources:

The Last of Us Show

The Last of Us Game

South Park lawsuit

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"The Banshees of Inisherin" Editor Mikkel E.G. Nielsen on Making Films Come Full Circle Feb 24, 2023

Show notes

Today’s guest is award winning editor, Mikkel E.G. Nielsen. Mikkel is an editor and director known for films such as Sound of Metal, Beasts of No Nation, and most recently, The Banshees of Inisherin. Mikkel shares what he appreciates most about being a film editor.

In this episode, we discuss…

What Mikkel appreciates the most from his time in film school in Denmark
Realizing you can treat material in many different ways
Remaining as objective and open as possible, especially in the initial stages of the process
Loving and honoring the collaborative process of editing a film
Why “less is more” sometimes
How finding balance and simplicity lends to a more powerful film
Helping the director make the best possible version of their intention

Memorable Quotes

“Editing has always been about experimenting and trying to see if there’s new ways to do certain things and to treat material in different ways.” [5:12]
“On a first pass you never ever touch anything from the script.” [15:15]
“There are so many things that are possible with so little material.” [18:14]
“We have a tendency in editing especially, to make things complicated.” [35:17]
“The film is not my baby. I’m helping someone and I always see it like that.” [41:43]

Resources:

Aqua Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQPS5J9_GNw

Walter Murch https://nofilmschool.com/podcast-legendary-walter-murch-editing

Alison O’Daniel and the Tuba Thieves https://nofilmschool.com/the-tuba-thieves

2023 Sundance Post Round Table https://nofilmschool.com/editors-and-post-sound-have-crush-each-others-work

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Keanu Reeves Warns Us About the Dangers of AI Editing Actors

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Do We Need AI to Cry? Plus, the Future of Red. Feb 23, 2023

Show notes

In today’s episode, we discuss whether or not editors should be allowed to digitally manipulate performances. Also, we talk about the changes RED is making and what cameras they will no longer offer.

In this episode, we talk about…

Milkshake ducking and why we are afraid of it
Protecting the performance element of an actor’s work
What editors need to consider before making artificial changes to an actor’s performance
A recent announcement from RED that has left many camera owners disappointed
Our experiences shooting on RED cameras
How to approach working with non-actors

Memorable Quotes

“The thing that AI is very good at doing is changing a facial expression.” [7:04]
“We’re living in this world of contrived filters and I don’t want us to move too much further into that….we need to protect the humanity.” [9:15]
“We’re watching civilizational standards shift.” [10:35]

Mentioned

RED Camera Announcement

ET Audition Tape

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https://womenwritenow.com/

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Nailing the LOL with Women Write Now’s Sundance Fellows Feb 17, 2023

Show notes

Hours before their Sundance premieres, we spoke with the writing fellows of Women Write Now, Hartbeat’s annual comedic screenwriting fellowship for Black women in partnership with the Sundance Institute. In addition to having the three writing fellows on, we were also joined by Hartbeat’s Head of Film, Candice Wilson-Cherry, who takes us through how the program is designed to directly address the lack of BIPOC women in leadership positions like showrunners and in writers' rooms. We also were joined by Hey Boo director Logan Browning who you might know from The Perfection and Dear White People. And in addition to diving into the art of comedy, we also dig into the art of directing for comedy. All of these shorts are directed by actors — the other two being Tika Sumpter and Nicole Byer.

In this episode, we discuss…

How the Women Write Now program is filling a void in the writing space
Their process for finding writiers and directors for the program
The development process of each of the shorts
Fitting the script into only 10 pages
Having to adjust things for the budgets
Finding mentors who would guide fellows in nurturing yet realistic ways
Doing table reads versus chemistry reads
Letting go of control by trusting actors
Hitting deadlines so you don’t hold up production

Memorable Quotes

“It’s really important that all of our films, tv shows, and formats are all reflective of the world.” [3:28]
“That was really nice, sort of discovering a different layer and different element to the story.” [9:56]
“They have helped me walk into a door that was closed.” [14:03]
“Make sure your actors get to be free and play.” [22:28]
“Write, write, write. You only become good, by just doing it.” [34:32]
“If you feel like you are a writer to your core, don’t be afraid to say it and don’t be afraid to tell people.” [41:03]

Mentioned:

The Real Hartbeat on Instagram

Candice Wilson Cherry (Producer of the films)

Logan Browning (Hey Boo director)

Danielle Solomon (Hey Boo writer)

Mayanna Berrin (Power Dynamics writer)

Kiana Butler (Night Off writer)

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Anthony Vanchure Instagram

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Editors and Post Sound Have a Crush on Each Other('s Work) Feb 10, 2023

Show notes

Continuing our Sundance coverage in episode 608 of the No Film School podcast, we sat down with editors and sound teams from films premiering at the festival. In addition to unpacking post production — the final and critical phase of filmmaking — we uncovered possibly the biggest work crushes in the film industry. In this conversation, you’ll hear from:

Emmy-winning editor, Taylor Mason - Editor for the psychological horror film Birth/Rebirth which premiered in the Midnight section on say one of Sundance. Mason’s previous work includes the Netflix mini-series Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, and Pose, as well as the variety show A Black Lady Sketch Show, for which Taylor and her team of editors became the first all-Black team to win a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Picture Editing.
Jon Philpot - Editor for the mockumentary film Theater Camp. Jon previously worked on beloved comedy series like Hacks, Search Party, Broad City, and Awkwafina is Nora From Queens, and At Home With Amy Sedaris.
Mike James Gallagher and Anthony Vanchure - Part of the sound team on Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman, the pair also recently worked on the biopic Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, as well as Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me and their collaboration on the documentary Lucy and Desi earned the pair an Emmy nomination.

In this episode, we discuss…

Breaking story as an editor
The emotions of door sounds
Temp sound and editors hoping to impress the sound designers and vice-versa
Figuring out the most interesting way to keep people engaged
The great thing about low budget projects
Balancing the tone of a more dramatic story with moments of levity
The great combination of laughter and fear
How sound design can affect people psychologically
Why it's so fun for editors and sound designers to collaborate

Memorable Quotes

“Is this a scene? Is this supposed to be entertaining? What does this have to do with anything?” [16:14]
“I wanna do a great job. I wanna do that on every project I work on. You don’t just want to half ass it.” [21:38]
“The idea of mixing comedy and horror together is phenomenal.” [31:00]
“I love working with editors that take sound seriously.” [41:35]

Mentioned:

Taylor Mason Instagram

Jon Philpot Instagram

Mike James Gallagher Instagram, website and sound design deconstructions

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