Let's Shoot! with Pete Chatmon

With a firm background in journalism and publicity, Ava seamlessly transitioned her marketing expertise into crafting compelling cinematic narratives spanning documentary, television, and feature films. Ava DuVernay is a versatile Director best known for ‘Origin’, ‘When They See Us’, ‘Selma’, and ‘Queen Sugar’. In this special New Year's Day episode, Pete is joined by Ava as they discuss discovering the magical power of storytelling, the intentions behind her Array community, the intimate relationship between publicity and filmmaking, transitioning from indie films to television production, appreciating the limitless experience while creating “Origin’, and more…(00:00:00 - 00:03:50) -- Podcast Intro (00:03:50 - 00:08:00) -- Understanding The Power Of Storytelling(00:08:00 - 00:11:11) -- Growing Up In Compton(00:11:11 - 00:13:00) -- Attending UCLA and Pursuing Journalism(00:13:00 - 00:18:30) -- Interview Preparation(00:18:30 - 00:23:00) -- Working In Publicity(00:23:00 - 00:26:00) -- Discovering Magic On The ‘Collateral’ Set (00:26:00 - 00:31:00) -- Remembering Her Early Short Films(00:31:00 - 00:36:12) -- The Importance Of Giving Back and Creating Community(00:36:12 - 00:42:10) -- First Time Directing For Television(00:42:10 - 00:43:20) -- “Transitions: A Director’s Journey + Motivational Handbook” Promo(00:43:20 - 00:47:00) -- The Origin Of ‘Origin’ (00:47:00 - 00:56:25) -- Life On The Set Of ‘Origin’ (00:56:25 - 01:07:40) -- ‘Origin’ Transitions, Organized Principals, and Post (01:07:40 - 01:14:40) -- Director's Approach and Stand Out Moments (01:14:40 - 01:17:35) -- Post ‘Origin’ Expectations(01:17:35 - 01:20:20) -- Lighting Round Question(01:20:20 - 01:23:20) -- Podcast Outro

Directors Anya Adams, Carl Seaton, and Jeff Byrd make their return to the pod as we welcome Morenike Joela Evans and Daniel Willis for our first ever Director's Round Table with Pete! These multi-faceted television Directors have a diverse portfolio spanning various genres including The Flight Attendant, Snowfall, Yellowjackets, The Blacklist, The Neighborhood, Grey’s Anatomy, and more. In this special season finale, Pete is joined by his peers as they discuss signs of bad directing, their welcome to the DGA moment, how to rekindle their fire and push through hard times, expectations as they make a return to the Directors chair, and more…(00:00:00 - 00:07:10) -- Podcast Intro (00:07:10 - 00:10:05) -- Meet Pete Chatmon(00:10:05 - 00:12:40) -- Meet Morenike Joela Evans(00:12:40 - 00:15:15) -- Meet Daniel Willis(00:15:15 - 00:18:05) -- Meet Carl Seaton(00:18:05 - 00:25:45) -- Meet Jeff Byrd(00:25:45 - 00:30:55) -- Meet Anya Adams(00:30:55 - 00:41:10) -- Signs Of Bad Directing(00:41:10 - 00:48:00) -- Rekindling Your Fire(00:48:00 - 01:13:50) -- Appreciating Your Village(01:13:50 - 01:15:00) -- “Transitions: A Director’s Journey And Motivational Handbook” Promo(01:15:00 - 01:40:30) -- Welcome To The DGA Moments(01:40:30 - 01:57:20) -- Returning To The Directors Chair Post Strike(01:57:20 - 01:59:40) -- Podcast Outro

In 2017, Bola wrote, starred in, and directed the short film ‘The Water Phoenix’ which quickly became her calling card. It also helped her identify her voice and tone as a Director. Bola Ogun is a first-generation Nigerian American Director best known for ‘Queen Sugar’, ‘The Witcher’, ‘Raising Dion’, and ‘Are We Good Parents?”. In this episode, Bola and Pete dive into the benefits of shadowing Directors and activating your network, crowdfunding for independent films, understanding the meaning and power of the word “no”, production assistant anecdotes, the importance of raising your words instead of your voice, and more…(00:00:00 - 00:13:23) -- Podcast Intro And Mail Box Questions(00:13:23 - 00:21:05) -- Introduction To Storytelling(00:21:05 - 00:29:30) -- Transitioning Into Film Directing And AFI Workshop(00:29:30 - 00:33:40) -- Raising Money For ‘The Water Phoenix’ (00:33:40 - 00:35:20) -- Self Discovery From Bali(00:35:20 - 00:39:20) -- Shadowing Directors And Activating Her Network(00:39:20 - 00:43:00) -- Directing An Episode Of ’Queen Sugar’ (00:43:00 - 00:46:00) -- Planting Her Feet In Episodic Directing(00:46:00 - 00:47:30) -- Having A Faithful Approach(00:47:30 - 00:55:00) -- Production Assistant Anecdotes (00:55:00 - 01:00:05) -- Director Anecdotes(01:00:05 - 01:01:20) -- “Transitions: A Director’s Journey And Motivational Handbook” Promo (01:01:20 - 01:04:45) -- Staying True To Your 100% Self(01:04:45 - 01:12:45) -- The Many Layers Of Filmmaking(01:12:45 - 01:19:40) -- MidJourney And Strike Hobbies(01:19:40 - 01:24:00) -- Lightning Round Question(01:24:00 - 01:26:15) -- Podcast Outro

After years of theater directing, Allison made the transition into television bringing a keen understanding of performance and stagecraft to the small screen. Allison Liddi-Brown is a Director best known for ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, ‘CSI: Miami’, ‘The Good Doctor’, ‘Scandal’, and ‘The Secret World of Alex Mack’. In this episode, Allison joins Pete to discuss tips and tricks when directing the untrained actor, the importance of deep collaboration, the art of blocking and movement, tone meetings and finding moments to elevate a scene, removing your fears and ego, navigating personal politics and more…(00:00:00 - 00:15:30) -- Podcast Intro And Mail Box Questions(00:15:30 - 00:22:20) -- Transitioning From Theater To Filmmaking(00:22:20 - 00:24:35) -- Directing The Untrained Actor(00:24:35 - 00:32:50) -- Earning Trust And Respect(00:32:50 - 00:35:00) -- Growing Up In Los Angeles And A Start At Nickelodeon(00:35:00 - 00:38:30) -- CSI Experience(00:38:30 - 00:39:40) -- Navigating Personal Politics(00:39:40 - 00:42:15) -- The Moment It Clicked(00:42:15 - 00:46:45) -- The Art of Blocking(00:46:45 - 00:52:30) -- The Art of Collaboration(00:52:30 - 00:53:42) -- “Transitions: A Director’s Journey And Motivational Handbook” Promo (00:53:42 - 00:56:55) -- Transitioning From Children’s Programming To Drama(00:56:55 - 01:00:20) -- Communicating With Your DP(01:00:20 - 01:10:40) -- Tone Meetings And Finding Moments To Elevate A Scene(01:10:40 - 01:12:10) -- Securing New Opportunities(01:12:10 - 01:17:00) -- Producing Director Vs. Episodic Director(01:17:00 - 01:30:44) -- Removing Ego And Fears(01:30:44 - 01:32:50) -- Post-Strike Ambitions(01:32:50 - 01:36:30) -- Characteristics To Make It As A Director(01:36:30 - 01:38:05) -- Podcast Outro

With a focus on identifying the best way to tell a story, Jonathan showcases a diverse skill set that enriches the visual, technical and narrative aspects of a production. Jonathan Judge is a television director best known for “Blues Clues'', “LazyTown”, “Young Sheldon'', and “The Really Loud House''. In this episode, Jonathan sits down with Pete to discuss the undeclared responsibilities when working in children’s programming, the Unreal Engine and how it compares to the Volume technology, live taping and multicam fundamentals, his introduction to green screen, booking sitcom pilots, and more…(00:00:00 - 00:17:30) -- Podcast Intro And Mail Box Questions(00:17:30 - 00:24:20) -- Enhancing Story Elements(00:24:20 - 00:28:19) -- Growing Up In Long Island, NY(00:28:19 - 00:32:55) -- Attending NYU And Having A Story To Tell(00:32:55 - 00:37:00) -- Film School Takeaways(00:37:00 - 00:41:50) -- Transitioning Into Television Directing(00:41:50 - 00:45:20) -- Working In Children’s Programming(00:45:20 - 00:48:50) -- Reflecting On NYU Interview(00:48:50 - 00:51:15) -- Introduction To Green Screen(00:51:15 - 00:58:15) -- Directing LazyTown And Unreal Engine Breakdown(00:58:15 - 01:02:08) -- Understanding The Volume(01:02:08 - 01:03:21) -- “Transitions: A Director’s Journey And Motivational Handbook” Promo (01:03:21 - 01:09:00) -- Tosh.0 And Kid’s Choice Awards(01:09:00 - 01:12:05) -- Diversifying Your Skillset(01:12:05 - 01:24:00) -- Transitioning Into Drama And Hour Programming(01:24:00 - 01:29:15) -- Live Taping And MultiCam Fundamentals(01:29:15 - 01:36:45) -- Post Strike Predictions (01:36:45 - 01:45:40) -- Lightning Round Questions(01:45:40 - 01:48:00) -- Podcast Outro

Guided by her faith and persistence, Princess Monique Filmz has engaged in a diverse range of creative pursuits, forging a unique path for her Director’s journey. Princess Monique Filmz is a Director best known for “The Goldbergs”, “Grand Crew”, “BMF” and her award winning short film, “The Call”. In this episode, Princess sits down with Pete to discuss how she transformed her personal journals into a 15 chapter autobiography, the importance of being resourceful and finding out what you don’t know, the technical differences between hour long dramas and half hour comedies, how to enhance long standing shows, navigating through push-back, and more…(00:00:00 - 00:09:50) -- Podcast Intro(00:09:50 - 00:14:20) -- Growing Up In Cleveland(00:14:20 - 00:17:00) -- Films That Made An Impact(00:17:00 - 00:23:50) -- Writing A Book(00:23:50 - 00:25:40) -- Majoring In Business Management(00:25:40 - 00:29:50) -- Assisting Chip Fields-Hurd And Navigating The Industry(00:29:50 - 00:32:45) -- Transitioning From Acting To Directing(00:32:45 - 00:36:20) -- Directing A Feature Film Vs. Short(00:36:20 - 00:39:00) -- The Writing Process And Collaboration(00:39:00 - 00:40:15) -- “Transitions: A Director’s Journey And Motivational Handbook” Promo (00:40:15 - 00:49:50) -- ABC Directing Program And Directing Greenleaf(00:49:50 - 00:55:00) -- 1hr Drama vs. 30 min Comedy (00:55:00 - 00:58:00) -- Navigating Through Push-Back(00:58:00 - 01:05:20) -- Enhancing Long Standing Shows(01:05:20 - 01:07:30) -- Self Reflection Post Covid(01:07:30 - 01:09:40) -- Wishlist And Setting Intentions(01:09:40 - 01:12:30) -- About The Real Black Unicorns(01:12:30 - 01:19:25) -- Lightning Round Questions(01:19:25 - 01:21:00) -- Podcast Outro

Fascinated by the magic of filmmaking at the age of 8, Maurice became a committed matinee moviegoer. Mo Marable is a Television Director best known for ‘Veep’, ‘Brockmire’, ‘’Woke, and ‘Grand Crew. In this episode, Mo joins Pete to discuss the process of designing a main title sequence, battling with logistics and budgeting hurdles, relationship building and taking care of your team, technical presentations vs. emotional presentations when booking for a pilot episode, the importance of being obsessed with your industry, and more….(00:00:00 - 00:08:50) -- Podcast Intro(00:08:50 - 00:15:45) -- Being A Young Moviegoer And Film Inspiration00:15:45 - 00:23:10) -- Military Influence And Mindset(00:23:10 - 00:27:15) -- Director Vs. Filmmaker(00:27:15 - 00:32:20) -- Dropping Out To PA With Spike Lee In New York(00:32:20 - 00:36:20) -- Transitioning Into Show Promotion At HBO(00:36:20 - 00:40:40) -- The Grind Lifestyle(00:40:40 - 00:47:05) -- Transitioning Into Title Sequence Design(00:47:05 - 00:48:20) -- “Transitions: A Director’s Journey And Motivational Handbook” Promo (00:48:20 - 00:59:00) -- Transitioning Into TV Directing From Commercial Work(00:59:00 - 01:06:20) -- Planting His Feet In Television(01:06:10 - 01:10:00) -- Logistics And Budgeting Hurdles(01:10:00 - 01:12:10) -- Takeaways From Executive Producing On ‘Brockmire’(01:12:10 - 01:23:15) -- The Process Of Booking A Pilot(01:23:15 - 01:28:50) -- Takeaways From Pilot Directing(01:28:50 - 01:37:30) -- Lightning Round Questions(01:37:30 - 01:38:55) -- Podcast Outro

From running base camp to sitting in the Director's chair, Anya navigates her journey with great communication, intention and leadership. Anya Adams is a Canadian-American director best known for ‘Black-ish’, ‘Ginny and Georgia', ‘Yellowjackets’ and her feature film directorial debut, ‘Prom Pact’. In this episode, Anya sits down with Pete to discuss how she transitioned from Psychology major to DGA trainee, a day in the life of the 1st AD and being the main source of communication, navigating through the realities of being in the Director’s chair, the beauty of world-building in pilot directing, her proudest moments and more…(00:00:00 - 00:08:40) -- Podcast Intro(00:08:40 - 00:15:50) -- Growing Up In Canada and Storytelling Inspiration(00:15:50 - 00:21:30) -- The DGA Trainee Program(00:21:30 - 00:24:50) -- Running Base Camp(00:24:50 - 00:31:00) -- Transitioning Into Directing(00:31:00 - 00:38:00) -- Budgeting For A Short and Leading With Intention(00:38:00 - 00:46:00) -- Landing First Roles As A Director(00:46:00 - 00:47:15) -- “Transitions: A Director's Journey And Motivational Handbook” Promo(00:47:15 - 00:50:00) -- The Importance of Relationships(00:50:00 - 00:54:00) -- Transitioning Into Premium(00:54:00 - 00:57:10) -- The Realities of Being In The Directors Chair(00:57:10 - 00:55:40) -- Reflecting On Her Most Difficult Scenes(01:01:25 - 01:04:05) -- Reflecting On Her Most Proud Episodes(01:04:05 - 01:06:05) -- Directing A Pilot and Creating The World(01:06:05 - 01:11:20) -- Lightning Round Questions(01:11:20 - 01:13:00) -- Podcast Outro

Influenced by the skateboard to surfing pipeline, Garrett hit the waves at the age of 11 after moving to Hawaii. From there he has gone on to travel the world, leaving his name in the sand as the world's preeminent (and record breaking) big wave surfer. On this episode, Garrett joins Pete to discuss how 3 years of footage led to the creation of the multiple Emmy-nominated HBO series “100 Foot Wave”, the powerhouse team behind the series, how to identify a “good” wave, 3 characteristics to make it as a surfer, the importance of discovering your niché, and more…(00:00:00 - 00:07:25) -- Podcast Intro(00:07:25 - 00:14:00) -- Moving To Hawaii And Introduction To Surfing(00:14:00 - 00:16:15) -- Transferring Skateboarding Skills To Surfing(00:16:15 - 00:21:40) -- Participating In Surfing Competitions(00:21:40 - 00:24:50) -- Going Pro And Moving To Japan(00:24:50 - 00:29:20) -- Surfing Precautions And Sponsors, Then and Now(00:29:20 - 00:34:20) -- Pivotal Moments To Success(00:34:20 - 00:40:15) -- Redefining Lifestyle and Reinventing Himself(00:40:15 - 00:43:00) -- Identifying A “Good” Wave(00:43:00 - 00:44:14) -- “Transitions: A Director's Journey And Motivational Handbook” Promo(00:44:14 - 00:52:40) -- Creating “100 Foot Wave”(00:52:40 - 00:55:40) -- Directing Vs. Being The Subject(00:55:40 - 00:58:15) -- The Team Behind “100 Foot Wave”(00:58:15 - 01:00:55) -- Fun Facts About The Series(01:00:55 - 01:03:50) -- Lightning Round Questions(01:03:50 - 01:06:10) -- Podcast Outro

From “Another World” to “A Different World” and everything in between, Reggie has learned the value of being a passionate truth seeker. Reggie Rock Bythewood is a Writer, Director, and Producer best known for “Get On The Bus'', “Notorious”, “Gun Hill” and the Apple TV+ series, “Swagger”. In this episode, Pete is joined by Reggie as he discusses his transition from Staff Writer to Director, the power of connection and safe space, the importance of allowing collaboration to inspire you, moments of surrender during the production of “Swagger”, and more….(00:00:00 - 00:10:25) -- Podcast Intro and Life of TheDirector(00:10:25 - 00:16:25) -- “Another World” and Growing Up In The Bronx(00:16:25 - 00:21:10) -- Inspiration For Storytelling(00:21:10 - 00:28:30) -- Becoming A Staff Writer On “A Different World”(00:28:30 - 00:31:30) -- The Age of Black Programming(00:31:30 - 00:34:20) -- Pivoting From Comedy To Drama(00:34:20 - 00:41:00) -- Hiring Directors(00:41:00 - 00:42:10) -- “Transitions: A Director's Journey + Motivational Handbook” Promo(00:42:10 - 00:45:45) -- From The Writers Room To Director’s Chair(00:45:45 - 00:48:00) -- Raising Money For Independent Films(00:48:00 - 00:56:05) -- Leaning Into Strengths And Collaboration(00:56:05 - 01:03:20) -- “Swagger” Vs. Pandemic(01:03:20 - 01:07:20) -- “Swagger” Vs. Rain(01:07:20 - 01:11:20) -- The Power Of Connection And Safe Space(01:11:20 - 01:17:25) -- Lightning Round Questions(01:17:25 - 01:19:00) -- Podcast Outro

With the original plan to pursue a career as a musical theater composer still in his back pocket, Paris has created a life for himself as a “coordinator of brilliance”. Paris Barclay is an award winning Director and Producer, known for “Dahmer”, “Sons of Anarchy”, “The West Wing”, “NYPD Blue” and the list goes on. He's also a two-term former president of the DGA and is currently Emmy-nominated for his work on "Dahmer". In this episode, Paris shares with Pete what he looks for when hiring Directors, how he navigates through the industry, the connection between composing, directing and cooking, the creation of “City of Angels”, his upcoming Billy Preston documentary, and more…(00:00:00 - 00:08:24) -- Podcast Intro (00:08:24 - 00:14:50) -- Transitioning From Composer to Music Video Director(00:14:50 - 00:17:40) -- Storytelling Through Music Video Directing(00:17:40 - 00:23:30) -- Relationships And The Role Of The Producing Director(00:23:30 - 00:27:30) -- The Role Of The Television Director(00:27:30 - 00:31:35) -- The "Cooking, Directing, and Composing" Connection(00:31:35 - 00:34:35) -- Transitioning Into Film(00:34:35 - 00:35:45) -- “Transitions: A Director's Journey And Motivational Handbook” Promo(00:35:45 - 00:41:40) -- Becoming A Producing Director(00:41:40 - 00:43:00) -- Creating “City Of Angels”(00:43:00 - 00:46:10) -- Navigating Through The Industry(00:46:10 - 00:49:20) -- Upcoming “Billy Preston” Project(00:49:20 - 00:55:10) -- 4 Keys When Hiring Directors(00:55:10 - 00:57:10) -- Most Compelling Scene/Episode(00:57:10 - 00:59:40) -- Martini Question(00:59:40 - 01:01:20) -- Podcast Outro

In between takes of “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia”, Charlie would spend his time writing and rewriting what would be his directorial debut, "Fool's Paradise". In this episode, Charlie and Pete dive into the realities of filmmaking from script to screen, the importance of discovering a character's wants and needs, lessons learned from the making of “Fool’s Paradise”, taking risks to tell the stories that don't get told, and more… (00:00:00 - 00:05:25) -- Podcast Intro (00:05:25 - 00:09:30) -- Landing A Role On Law & Order(00:09:30 - 00:18:15) -- Involvement With The Williamstown Theatre Festival(00:18:15 - 00:24:35) -- It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia(00:24:35 - 00:28:00) -- Constructing Characters And Focusing On Their “Wants” (00:28:00 - 00:31:00) -- Collaborating With The “Gang”(00:31:00 - 00:38:05) -- Working With And Hiring Directors(00:38:05 - 00:40:55) -- Approaching Improvisation(00:40:55 - 00:41:55) -- “Transitions: A Director's Journey And Motivational Handbook” Promo(00:41:55 - 00:43:50) -- Transitioning Into Features(00:43:50 - 01:00:25) -- The Making Of “Fool’s Paradise”(01:00:25 - 01:11:55) -- If You Could Remake “Fool’s Paradise”, What Would You Do Differently?(01:11:55 - 01:15:25) -- Casting “Fool’s Paradise”(01:15:25 - 01:18:30) -- The Realities Of Making A Movie(01:18:30 - 01:26:20) -- Lighting Round Questions(01:26:20 - 01:28:10) -- Podcast Outro

Anton Cropper is a director and producer known for ’Monk’, ‘Black-ish’, ’Suits’, and his recent feature film ‘Fantasy Football’. In this episode, Anton joins Pete to discuss the role of the Stage Manager, directing actors and applying writer's notes, the importance of relationships, creating new worlds when directing pilots, pitch deck preparation, and more…(00:00:00 - 00:05:45) -- Podcast Intro (00:05:45 - 00:14:00) -- First Story To Have An Impact(00:14:00 - 00:17:45) -- Getting His Start In the Business(00:17:45 - 00:25:55) -- Growing Up And Financial Literacy(00:25:55 - 00:28:30) -- Early Years As A Stage Manager(00:28:30 - 00:37:15) -- Moving Up The Ladder(00:37:15 - 00:45:20) -- Directing Actors (00:45:20 - 00:53:00) -- Relationships And Receiving Notes (00:53:00 - 00:54:00) -- “Transitions: A Director's Journey And Motivational Handbook” Promo(00:54:00 - 01:02:10) -- Maintaining His Career And Getting On The Radar(01:02:10 - 01:05:10) -- Saying “No"(01:05:10 - 01:12:55) -- Creating The World With Pilots(01:12:55 - 01:18:50) -- The Importance Of Prep And Pitch Decks(01:18:50 - 01:22:22) -- Upcoming Projects(01:22:22 - 01:35:00) -- Lighting Round Questions(01:35:00 - 01:37:20) -- Podcast Outro

During a time when there was no clear blueprint for becoming a filmmaker in Hollywood, Charles Murray devoted his youth to educating himself via self-help handbooks from his local libraries. Charles is a writer, director, and producer best known for ’Sons of Anarchy’, ‘Luke Cage’, ‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’, and ‘Tales of Jedi’. He serves as showrunner on season two of Amazon Studios' 'Outer Range'. In this episode, Charles and Pete discuss the importance of doing your own research and understanding the language of filmmaking, the journey to getting a pilot picked up, what to look for when hiring Directors, staying true to what makes sense for you, and more…(00:00:00 - 00:13:20) -- Podcast Intro (00:13:20 - 00:21:30) —Growing Up In Indiana And Interest In Filmmaking(00:21:30 - 00:29:05) -- Becoming A Self-Made Screenplay Writer(00:29:05 - 00:39:30) -- Moving To California And Having Support (00:39:30 - 00:48:35) -- Doing The Groundwork(00:48:35 - 00:58:13) -- Early Years Working In Los Angeles(00:58:13 - 01:09:20) -- When Preparation Meets Opportunity(01:09:20 - 01:10:20) -- “Transitions: A Director’s Journey and Motivational Handbook” Promo(01:10:20 - 01:17:30) -- Breaking Into The Industry As A Writer(01:17:30 - 01:32:45) -- Writing For Television And Getting His Pilot Picked Up(01:32:45 - 01:37:30) -- Transitioning Into The Role Of The Showrunner(01:37:30 - 01:43:40) -- Hiring Directors(01:43:40 - 01:51:00) -- The Directors Approach And Being Okay With “Not Knowing”(01:51:00 - 01:56:10) -- Lightning Round Questions(01:56:10 - 01:57:35) -- Podcast Outro

To avoid having to write a final paper for a Philosophy and Religion Studies course, Brian put his creativity to the test and presented a short film. Now an Emmy-nominated VFX supervisor, Brian Kubovcik is the Head of Studio for FuseFX and known for “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law”, “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan”, and “Criminal Minds”. In this episode, Brian and Pete enter the world of visual effects as they explore the process from making a bid to working in post, the importance of understanding camera and lighting, special tools and equipment that help inform the VFX team, recognizing the people controlling the machines, the future of VFX and more…(00:00:00 - 00:06:53) -- Podcast Intro (00:06:53 - 00:12:40) -- Early Years Working In VFX(00:12:40 - 00:15:15) -- First Steps For VFX And Formatting A Script(00:15:15 - 00:20:50) -- Determining The FX Budget(00:20:50 - 00:23:55) -- VFX Prep And Refining Assumptions(00:23:55 - 00:28:15) -- The Importance Of Early Communication(00:28:15 - 00:30:10) -- Making A VFX Bid(00:30:10 - 00:35:55) -- Understanding Camera And Lighting(00:35:55 - 00:36:55) -- “Transitions: A Director’s Journey and Motivational Handbook” Promo(00:36:55 - 00:39:20) -- The VFX Team And Set Visits(00:39:20 - 00:47:40) -- Working In Post(00:47:40 - 00:52:22) -- Favorite VFX Moments(00:52:22 - 00:56:10) -- The Future Of VFX(00:56:10 - 00:59:20) -- Lightning Round Questions(00:59:20 - 00:58:55) -- Podcast Outro

Shiri Appleby began her acting journey at age 5, working on the set of numerous television shows and commercials. An actress and director born in Calabasas, California, Shiri is best known for her breakout roles in “Roswell” and “Life Unexpected”, and her directorial work on “Grown-ish” and “UnPrisoned”. In this episode, Shiri and Pete discuss the performance of the Director, good vs. bad notes to give an actor, the importance of prepping and how it is your protection, adjusting to the new “Evercast” protocol in post-production, having chutzpah, and more… (00:00:00 - 00:07:10) -- Podcast Intro And WGA Strike Update(00:07:10 - 00:12:45) -- Early Memories On Set(00:12:45 - 00:22:00) -- High School And College Years(00:22:00 - 00:27:35) -- Working With An Acting Coach(00:27:35 - 00:32:40) -- Shadowing and Landing First Gig As A Director(00:32:40 - 00:33:40) -- “Transitions: A Director’s Journey and Motivational Handbook” Promo(00:33:40 - 00:37:20) -- Eye Opening Moments Directing On Set(00:37:20 - 00:42:50) -- Directing Actors And Good Vs. Bad Notes(00:42:50 - 00:47:70) -- Representation And Identifying Your Genre Of Choice(00:47:70 - 00:52:20) -- The Importance Of Prepping (00:52:20 - 00:56:00) -- Editing Via Evercast(00:56:00 - 00:58:55) -- What Would You Change About The Industry?(00:58:55 - 01:00:50) -- The Performance Of The Director(01:00:50 - 01:01:15) -- What’s Next?(01:01:15 - 01:05:40) —Lightning Round Questions(01:05:40 - 01:07:20) -- Podcast Outro

Writing and selling a screenplay about a lawyer while working at a law firm is how Ellen became a writer best known for ‘Desperados’, ‘Clifford the Big Red Dog’, and her hit series ’Minx’. In this episode, Ellen and Pete discuss her transition into storytelling, how she discovered and developed the story of “Minx”, the process of pitching a story to a studio and network, her experience directing for the first time, running the show, and more…(00:00:00 - 00:07:25) -- Podcast Intro (00:07:25 - 00:13:30) -- Attending Law School(00:13:30 - 00:17:20) -- Becoming A Storyteller(00:17:20 - 00:21:00) -- Selling A Script And Moving To LA(00:21:00 - 00:22:50) -- Transitioning Into Television Writing(00:22:50 - 00:26:40) -- A Day In The Life Of A Writer(00:26:40 - 00:28:20) -- Discovering The Story Of ‘Minx’(00:28:20 - 00:33:00) -- Developing The Characters And Tone(00:33:00 - 00:40:35) -- The Pitching Process(00:40:35 - 00:41:33) -- “Transitions: A Director’s Journey and Motivational Handbook” Promo(00:41:33 - 00:46:00) -- “Minx” Season One Production And Show-running(00:46:00 - 00:51:10) -- Hiring Directors(00:51:10 - 00:57:00) -- Directing The Finale(00:57:00 - 00:58:55) -- “Minx” Season Two Production(00:58:55 - 01:01:00) —“Minx” Season Two Directors(01:01:00 - 01:07:15) -- Lightning Round Questions(01:07:15 - 01:09:03) -- Podcast Outro

On this special episode, Pete combines previous podcast conversations with a variety of actors to spotlight their perspectives. Join us as we revisit why Issa Rae enjoys the writers room, the first story that impacted Dorian Missick, the best note Keith Powell gave to an actor, how Aya Cash prepares for character roles vs. personal interviews, Kaley Cuoco’s introduction to acting, and more…Complete Guest List: Issa Rae, Keith Powell, Aya Cash, Simone Missick, Spencer Garrett, Dorian Missick, Romany Malco, Rob McElhenney, and Kaley Cuoco. (00:00:00 - 00:03:55) -- Podcast Intro (00:03:55 - 00:05:50) -- Why Issa Rae Enjoys The Writers Room(00:05:50 - 00:08:25) -- Where Most Directors Go Wrong In Pre-Production(00:07:35 - 00:08:25) -- Words Of Wisdom From Issa Rae(00:08:25 - 00:10:55) -- Spencer Garrett Defines The Role Of An Actor(00:10:55 - 00:14:25) -- Spencer Lands His First Role(00:14:25 - 00:19:35) -- The Casting And Audition Process(00:19:35 - 00:21:45) -- The First Story To Impact Dorian Missick(00:21:45 - 00:25:45) -- Being In The Right Place At The Right Time(00:25:45 - 00:33:25) -- Dorian’s Big Break And Words Of Wisdom(00:33:25 - 00:37:18) -- The First Story To Impact Rob McElhenney(00:35:35 - 00:37:18) -- Rob Compares Writing To Acting(00:37:18 - 00:38:18) -- “Transitions: A Director’s Journey and Motivational Handbook” Promo(00:38:18 - 00:44:45) -- How Keith Powell Became A Storyteller(00:44:45 - 00:48:10) -- The Best Note Keith Powell Gave An Actor(00:48:10 - 00:52:50) -- How Simone Missick Got Her Start And Words Of Wisdom(00:52:50 - 00:59:10) -- Aya Cash’s Introduction To Storytelling And Acting Preparation(00:59:10 - 01:04:14) -- How Romany Malco Broke Into The Industry(01:04:14 - 01:05:45) -- Romany Describes Three Traits To Have As An Actor(01:05:45 - 01:10:15) -- Kaley Cuoco’s Introduction To Acting(01:10:15 - 01:15:30) -- Kaley’s Big Break And Playing Multiple Versions Of A Character(01:15:30 - 01:16:52) -- Podcast Outro

Shannon Baker Davis is an award-winning television and film editor best known for ‘Grown-ish’, ‘Queen Sugar’, ’Top Chef’, ‘The Photograph’, and “Prom Pact”. In this episode, Pete gains access to the mind of an editor as Shannon describes what she looks for when navigating through various cuts, her transition from reality tv to scripted editing, the importance of pacing in a scene, and more…(00:00:00 - 00:05:00) -- Podcast Intro (00:03:45 - 00:10:30) -- How Did You Get Your Start?(00:10:30 - 00:14:35) -- The First Story That Impacted You(00:14:35 - 00:17:45) -- Getting Involved With Editing(00:17:45 - 00:22:00) -- Navigating Various Cuts(00:22:00 - 00:28:10) -- Howard University vs. AFI Educational Journey(00:28:10 - 00:34:30) -- AFI Curriculum and Take Away(00:34:30 - 00:40:40) -- Building Trust And Proving Yourself(00:40:40 - 00:41:40) -- “Transitions: A Director’s Journey and Motivational Handbook” Promo(00:41:40 - 00:48:10) -- Transitioning Into Scripted Editing(00:48:10 - 00:53:25) -- The Role Of An Assistant Editor(00:53:25 - 00:58:55) -- The Importance Of Having Good Instincts(00:58:55 - 01:09:40) -- The Signs Of A Good Director(01:09:40 - 01:11:10) -- What’s Next For You?(01:11:10 - 01:13:05) -- Advice To Younger Self(01:13:05 - 01:16:20) -- Balancing Home And Work Life(01:16:20 - 01:19:40) -- Final Words(01:19:40 - 01:20:54) -- Podcast Outro

Valerie Weiss is an award-winning director and scientist known for “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds”, “Outer Banks” and “Chicago Med”. In this episode, Valerie and Pete discuss the future of filmmaking as they explore the benefits of using volume technology and Scriptation, the importance of allowing your life experiences to influence your perspective, being comfortable with uncertainty, marrying her love of science with her love for directing, and more… (00:00:00 - 00:03:45) -- Podcast Intro (00:03:45 - 00:11:55) -- Mailbag Questions(00:11:55 - 00:16:15) -- The First Story That Impacted You(00:16:15 - 00:19:00) -- Getting Involved With Theater and Acting(00:19:00 - 00:25:15) -- Balancing Her Love For Science With Directing(00:25:15 - 00:28:00) -- Getting Accepted Into The AFI Directors Program(00:28:00 - 00:33:10) -- Benefits of Being A Director With A Ph.D(00:33:10 - 00:37:30) -- Early Stages Directing Film(00:37:30 - 00:41:50) -- Staying Committed and Appreciating Your Personal Life Experiences (00:41:50 - 00:42:45) -- “Transitions: A Director’s Journey and Motivational Handbook” Promo(00:42:45 - 00:47:05) -- Getting Her Start In Episodic Directing(00:47:05 - 00:52:35) -- Episodic Directing vs. Feature Directing(00:52:35 - 00:59:25) -- Getting Invited Back and Securing Her Role(00:59:25 - 01:04:40) -- Benefits Of Volume Technology(01:04:40 - 01:12:50) -- What Traits Make You Unique?(01:12:50 - 01:18:55) -- Being A Team Player and Problem Solving(01:18:55 - 01:24:45) -- Benefits of Using Scriptation(01:24:45 - 01:30:05) -- Lightning Round Questions(01:30:05 - 01:31:21) -- Podcast Outro