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Hello, Hello! 

In this episode, we sit down with Producer and Director David Parks to dive deep into the journey of Indie filmmaking, the making of his feature film The Short Game, and the realities of bringing authentic neurodiverse stories to the screen. Through thoughtful discussion and entertaining anecdotes, the conversation unpacks the balance between creative vision and analytical decision-making, handling post-production setbacks, and the importance of continuous learning in the film industry. From distribution strategies to heartfelt family stories, this episode delivers both inspiration and practical wisdom for filmmakers and film lovers alike. 

We also talk about:

• The role of Executive Producers and how their contributions go far beyond financial support, including resources and creative insight.
• The challenges and ingenuity behind filming sports scenes, especially on a tight indie budget, including iPhone cinematography tricks.
• Funny and formative prank stories shared by the hosts and guests, highlighting family dynamics and growing up.
• The evolution of golf in cinema, including a new Things We Should Know about the very first golf movies ever made.
• Favorite cheat day meals, with a spotlight on iconic Chicago deep dish pizza and the unique food culture of Adams Morgan in Washington, DC.

People, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned:

The Short Game (feature film)

Full Cup (documentary)

Dirty Towel (short film)

Spring Fever

West of Broadway

Citizen Kane

Rocky

Raiders of the Lost Ark

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

The Sting

Spaceballs

Home Alone

Tin Cup

Caddyshack

The Legend of Bagger Vance

BarbieHeimer (referenced rollout)

Blazing Saddles

Super Troopers

David Parks

Kevin Ross (editor)

Frank Sansa (writer/producer)

Emma Parks (actress/filmmaker)

Lori Flori Lawrence (screenwriter)

Larry Boatright

Jordan Christensen

Ellen Gusenberg Kent

Dan Hagel

Bob Costas

Aiden Alexander

Ben Krieger

Martin Maxey

Jay Duplass

The Safdie Brothers

The Russo Brothers

Aaron Schneider

Tom Hanks

Jonathan Boeing

Rioville

Adams Morgan (DC)

Sherman TX

Bristol CT

Annapolis

Huntland TN

USC Film School

Syracuse University

Newhouse School

Peter Stark Producing Program (USC)

Wharton Business School

IE Business School

NBC Sports

Producers Guild Association

Google Workspace

Otter.ai

Claude Pro (Anthropic)

Gusto (payroll app)

GitHub

JIRA

HubSpot

Notion

Lou Malnati’s (Chicago pizza)

Jumbo Slice (Adams Morgan)

Armands Pizza

Homeless World Cup (soccer event)

Chocolate Martini

We are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters. 

So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating, or giving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT

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