IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit

Who's a good boy? Indy, the star of this new horror film told entirely from his point of view. Director Ben Leonberg brought Indy into the office for a fun chat about filming a movie in his own home for 3 years, usually about 17 inches off the ground. Listen for how Ben used clever filmmaking to craft a great performance from of a dog who doesn't know he's an actor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In his solo directorial debut after making 'Good Time' and 'Uncut Gems' with his brother Josh, Benny Safdie pushed his signature chaotic style to a deeper, more personal place. From his rigorous authenticity in the ring, shooting the relationship with the same style as the fights, and convincing The Rock of all people to gain muscle, you'll want to hear how Benny went all out for this larger than life true story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The master of recreating real crisis is back. Director Paul Greengrass joins IndieWire's Chris O'Falt to discuss his newest survival thriller based on a true story from the 2018 California Wildfires. Greengrass explains why he changed his approach to filming the fires after the tragedies earlier this year, and how his background as a journalist lead to the creation of his signature style. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Writer-director Shane Black joins IndieWire’s Jim Hemphill to talk about his latest film, the action-comedy “Play Dirty.” They discuss Black’s approach to adapting author Donald Westlake, why he likes to set action movies at Christmas, and how he finds the right balance between violence, humor, and poignancy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Filmmaker’s Toolkit Podcast with Chris O’Falt (IndieWire) Welcome to the Filmmaker’s Toolkit Podcast, hosted by IndieWire’s Chris O’Falt. This week we dive into one of the most urgent conversations in nonfiction filmmaking: the role of artificial intelligence. Like many in the film community, Chris is deeply wary of what AI means for the art form we love—but ignoring it isn’t the answer. In this episode, Chris speaks with Stephanie Jenkins, longtime producer with Ken Burns and cofounder of the Archival Producers Alliance (APA). Jenkins has been at the forefront of setting industry guardrails for AI in documentary filmmaking, spearheading the APA’s Best Practices for the Use of Generative AI in Documentaries and helping launch the AI Toolkit for Nonfiction Filmmakers. Together, they explore the promises, pitfalls, and pressing ethical questions surrounding AI in documentaries—drawing from surveys, real-world examples, and the lived experience of filmmakers working with archival materials. If storytellers and film lovers don’t engage in this conversation, Silicon Valley will shape the future of nonfiction for us. Tune in to hear an eye-opening discussion and join the dialogue on how documentary filmmakers can protect creativity, history, and truth in the age of AI. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Director and co-writer Justin Tipping joins Toolkit to talk with IndieWire’s Jim Hemphill about his surreal new horror film from Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions. Tipping explains how he found his visual language at the intersection between horror and sports, how working with Peele liberated and protected him, and why he cast comic Marlon Wayans in a terrifying role. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rob Reiner returns to Filmmaker Toolkit to talk with IndieWire’s Jim Hemphill about “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues.” Reiner discusses returning to the characters who launched his career, working as an actor for Martin Scorsese and Ron Howard, and how digital capture made his job easier than on “This is Spinal Tap” in 1984. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s IndieWire’s Filmmakers Toolkit, Chris O’Falt talks with writer-director Andrew DeYoung about his dark comedy Friendship—now streaming on HBO Max. He reveals how he shaped Tim Robinson’s offbeat energy, uncovered a vulnerable side of Paul Rudd, and crafted a breakup story that’s as funny as it is unsettling—proving comedy hits harder when rooted in truth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mario Van Peebles joins IndieWire’s Jim Hemphill for a live version of Filmmaker Toolkit to talk about his directorial debut, “New Jack City.” In a conversation that followed a 35mm screening of the 1991 gangster classic, Van Peebles discusses casting the film, finding its visual language, and the influence of his father Melvin Van Peebles on his approach. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Director Josh Greenbaum took IndieWire behind the scenes of the planning, shooting, and editing of his Emmy nominated documentary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emmy-winning director Jon Cassar joins IndieWire features writer Jim Hemphill for a special episode on Jon’s 31 rules for television directors. These are things he’s learned over the course of 30-plus years and over 200 episodes of TV that range from the technical to the political — all of them vital to sustaining a career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)" is a documentary that knows to tell the story of Sly Stone's life and music, you need exceptional craft and storytelling discipline. From depicting music with experimental visuals, to convincing some of music's biggest names to talk on camera, listen to these two filmmakers, musicians, and friends explain how the story was told mattered as much as what they included. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brennan Lee Mulligan, executive producer and GM of "Dimension 20," offers IndieWire a peak inside the dimensional dome and discusses how cinematic tools, from editing and art design to sound effects and physical props, can help enhance Actual Play storytelling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is a real treat for animation fans, a deep dive into the art and process with the beloved creator of Samurai Jack, Dexter's Lab, Primal, and now the new Netflix movie Fixed. Genndy explained why he fought for 2D animation to keep the dogs less gross, walks us through his process with voice actors, and reveals how Fixed was almost the latest Warner Bros. movie shelved for a tax break. PLUS fans of Primal should stick around to the end for an update on Season 3. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Legendary TV creator R. Scott Gemmill joins the Toolkit to breakdown one of this years biggest shows: 'The Pitt.' Gemmill lifts the curtain on the show's medical accuracy, revealing how doctors consulted from script to set to screen. We think you'll enjoy hearing this master of television discussing what it took to launch yet another hit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul Rubens, the man who created and became Pee-Wee Herman, has eluded a documentary about his life for a long time. While Matt Wolf was finally able to make a film exploring this complicated artist, it came at a price. Listen to Matt recount his artistic battle with Rubens as they shot the doc, and the shocking personal details he uncovered that bound them together. You have to hear this one to believe it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First time director Michael Shanks joined us on Toolkit for a fascinating discussion about the crazy intimacy of directing a real life couple, his roots as an Aussie kid binging After Effects tutorials, and why his particular brand of body horror needed to be very dry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As one of the writers behind Lonely Island, and the director of hits like 'Popstar and 'Hot Rod', director Akiva Schaffer was a brilliant choice to helm a revival of one of cinema's most iconic comedy franchises. We dig into the craft behind the comedy, from casting serious actors to going for broke on a particular snowman sequence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Toolkit we want to explore the challenges facing filmmakers today, and a growing concern is A.I. But we find for all the promises and fears of what A.I.will do, there are few conversations about what A.I. is actually able to do right now. Writer and director Scott Z. Burns has the perfect case study for us: trying to write a sequel to his and Steven Soderbergh's 'Contagion' using A.I. screenwriters and film critics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kenneth Lonergan, one of our host's favorite filmmakers, joins Toolkit to reflect on his first film as a director, 'You Can Count On Me.' He walks us through his transition from writer to the director's chair, and shares stories of working with Mark Ruffalo and Laura Linney on the film that would be their Sundance breakthrough. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices