Long-time friends and colleagues, Christopher Ross and Sam McCurdy, are two of the cinematographers of FX’s mini-series, Shōgun. Filming this series was an incredible experience full of lessons in Japanese culture, lenses, and shooting with cranes.

In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins and special guest, cinematographer Ryan Thomas, speak with DPs Christopher Ross and Sam McCurdy to discuss: 

• How Chris and Sam met
• The type of friendships you hold onto in the industry 
• What it was like working with an international cast and crew on Shōgun
• The singular perspectives that ran throughout the larger storyline
• What it was like working with other DPs 
• The lenses they chose to use in this project 
• Letting the camera find special moments without much interference
• What an ASC masterclass is
• What gave the show its atmospheric texture
• Bringing truth and honesty to every episode
• Why making mistakes is so valuable

Memorable Quotes

• “From the start of your career to the end of your career, you’re still on some form of learning curve.” [8:47]
• “Being true to what you’re shooting and being true to the script and the story is the still most important tool we bring to any job.” [50:33]
• “Be brave and stupid in equal measure. Get smarter every time you shoot.” [54:00]
• “Don’t necessarily listen to everyone else. Go and figure it out yourself.” [55:01]

Mentioned:

Shōgun

Original 1980 Shogun series

ASC Masterclass

Connect with Ryan on IG

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Writing a screenplay is like following a cookie recipe, it’s closer to magic than science. You don’t have to follow screenwriting “rules” to create an amazing story. There’s something else you don’t have to do in your career. When serious problems arise in your personal life, you don’t have to keep working at your typical pace. It’s okay to ask for help and decrease your output.

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

• The number of “unfilmables” on the first page of the Challengers script
• Not getting hung up on the idiosyncrasies of screenwriting
• Hooking the reader in the first 10 pages with your confidence
• Asking for specific support when things are rough in your personal life
• Accidentally lighting a trash can on fire
• Taking time to process life’s challenges
• Using writing as a way to process loss and sadness
• Cancelling meetings and relying on email
• The benefits of a meditative practice 

Memorable Quotes

• “I know what the audience wants to know right now. I know what they need to know, but don’t even know they want to know.” [11:28]
• “If your page one sucks, you’ve already lost them.” [12:26]
• “If you’re trying to make Hollywood hits with multi-million dollar budgets, page one has to be great!” [15:50]
• “You can still be creating, even when you’re in a depressed dark hole.” [28:45]

Mentioned:

Why Did the First Page of the 'Challengers' Screenplay Go Viral?

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Justin Kuritzkes is the screenwriter for the film, Challengers, starring Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor. The story revolves around tennis pros who are caught in a love triangle. It’s not just about the game of tennis, but about the game of love and power. Let’s dive into Justin’s process of writing such a damn good movie!

In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins speaks with writer Justin Kuritzkes to discuss: 

• How screenplays differ from other written mediums
• Building up a story that would realistically exist in the real world
• The inspiration behind the story 
• How writing the movie made tennis less enjoyable for him to watch
• Deciding on the setting of the story
• Surprising moments during the writing process
• Writing in cars, hotel rooms, and airplanes when you are pressed for time
• The questions he asked himself before writing the story 
• Collaborating with actors and getting their feedback
• Feeling like you are watching the movie as you write the script

Memorable Quotes

• “The thing about screenwriting is that it’s such a rigidly formalistic, medium.” [3:52]
• “I started thinking about the movie and I started watching a lot of tennis. Quickly, I became an obsessive tennis fan. I almost didn’t want to write the movie.” [11:40]
• “It’s like the big bang. Once the character is there, it’s sort of like “Now, there is light!’” [14:23]
• “If you feel like you are watching the movie when you’re writing it, hopefully, other people will feel that way, too.” [24:37]

Mentioned:

CHALLENGERS

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The days of selling naked specs are over. It’s now the filmmaker's job to understand how to package their projects. While many were opposed to packaging in the past, there are effective ways to approach the process that will leave you feeling empowered.

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

• The benefits and drawbacks of packaging
• Why Hollywood is risk averse right now
• Packaging through the eyes of a writer or director
• Naked specs - what are they?
• What the packaging process looks like
• Writing specs that can realistically be created
• Why AI will not eliminate the need for skilled creatives
• Collaborating with others so they feel comfortable and seen 
• The problems of measuring stardom

Memorable Quotes

• “Your script has to be perfect by the time you turn it in. Nobody wants to develop anything anymore.” [7:48]
• “It’s the job of a filmmaker to bend reality as far as you possibly can.” [15:16]
• “AI often gives people the heebie jeebies.” [24:15]
• “Every measurement tool we have is gibberish.” [27:20]

Mentioned:

Movies & TV How To Survive Until 2025 For Filmmakers

Scriptnotes Podcast - Ep 639 Intrinsic Motivation

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We had the chance to speak to Grant Petty of Blackmagic Design at this year’s NAB conference. It was as much of a conversation about technology and innovation as it was a conversation about human nature. 

In today’s episode, No Film School’s Jourdan Aldredge speaks with Blackmagic CEO Grant Petty to discuss: 

• Developing the URSA Cine with a post-production mindset
• Zero-cost options from Blackmagic for beginners
• Why Grant doesn’t like to compete with others
• PYXIS camera and its features
• Creating products that lend to an efficient post-production workflow
• Exciting new changes and updates to DaVinci Resolve 19
• Grant’s opinion on AI and the future of editing 
• The moment he fell in love with color correction
• Feeling lonely and misunderstood
• Why you have to be a ruthless, yet empathetic product engineer

Memorable Quotes

• “Business people are some of the stupidest people in the world.” [22:25]
• “A lot of this technology is just shit. It’s not very reliable.” [29:11]
• “If it gets too smart, it’s just another species to kill. Humans are fantastic at killing everything. We just gotta go hunting computers.” [30:45]
• “With creativity comes great loneliness.” [47:58]
• “You got to be simultaneously ruthless and simultaneously full of empathy.” [50:00]

Mentioned:

A First-Hand Look at the New Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K at NAB 2024 

Check out Jourdan's article 

Blackmagic URSA Cine

Blackmagic PYXIS

DaVinci Resolve 19   

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Erick Sasso is a multi-hyphenate creative and the editor of the film, Maxine's Baby: The Tyler Perry Story, which documents the life of Tyler Perry. Erick compares the making of documentaries to the making of a meal. You need to use the right ingredients…not too much, not too little. And everyone at the table has to enjoy it.

In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins speaks with filmmaker Erick Sasso to discuss: 

• Making music videos with his friends in high school
• Realizing you can reverse engineer in the edit
• The importance of charging adequately for your services
• How he landed the editing job on Maxine’s Baby
• What it looks like to fall in love with the subject
• Navigating topics such as abuse and childhood trauma 
• What it was like seeing emotional reactions from the audience
• Important lessons he has learned about being a filmmaker
• Setting up projects in Adobe Premiere
• Overcoming tech fears and looking forward to new updates
• Why editors make the best directors
• Focusing on development and learning from others

Memorable Quotes

• “Usually you are not charging enough. Usually, you are charging way less than industry standard.” [12:38]
• “When you edit a lot, it’s really creepy when you meet people.” [32:59]
• “You may think you are a hard worker until you meet someone who is doing 10x your output.” [35:09]
• “You need to become a pro at uncertainty.” [60:24]

Mentioned:

Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story

Erick's website

Connect with Erick on IG

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Rod Blackhurst and Noah Lang are the dynamic duo behind the film Blood for Dust, starring Kit Harington, Scooty McNairy, and Josh Lucas. These filmmakers share why leading with honesty, openness, and enthusiasm is the key to building strong relationships and creating successful films. You don’t have to be cutthroat in this industry in order to achieve your filmmaking dreams.

In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins speaks with director Rod Blackhurst and producer Noah Lang to discuss: 

• How Rod and Noah began working together
• Why you should lead with honesty and enthusiasm
• Making movies with the same people over and over again
• Understanding what you have agency over in your career
• How Scoot McNairy and Kit Harington came onto the project
• How meeting David Gordon Green in 2012 eventually led to the making of Blood for Dust
• The power of self-awareness and being a kind filmmaker
• The vibe on set - having fun amid stress
• What it looks like to make an honest living in filmmaking 

Memorable Quotes

• “You can meet someone on the internet and become homies.” [3:27]
• “You don’t need everyone to want to be on your team. You just need some of the right people.” [38:55]
• “Being a good person and doing good work matters. It does result in good things happening.” [43:02]
• “We’re rowing upstream, going against the grain. We’re out there believing in what we have. Wrestling with our choices, behaviors, actions, our own struggles, and darkness.” [50:44]

Mentioned:

Blood for Dust 

Here Alone

Connect with Rod on IG

Connect with Noah on IG

Witchcraft (Rod & Noah’s production company)

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Nina Ognjanovic is the director of the film, Where the Road Leads, which won Best Narrative Feature at Slamdance 2023. Nina and her passionate team prove you can successfully market a foreign, indie film on a limited budget and still win at major festivals in the US and worldwide.

In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins speaks with Nina Ognjanovic, David Jovanovic, and Jana Bjelica to discuss: 

• Their experience traveling from Serbia to the United States for Slamdance
• Marketing the film using scrappy, creative methods
• Their approach to casting and shooting
• What it was like to act on multiple projects at the same time
• How they handled shooting in an isolated location without cell service
• Building trust with the cast, crew, and locals
• The Slamdance experience and the reaction of the audience
• The first shot of the film - finding a unique solution to a challenge
• Setting the production schedule based on the weather conditions 
• The magic they experienced during production
• Why you need to fail and experiment before doing a feature 

Memorable Quotes

• “It’s hard, but when you love your job, everything is possible” [9:23]
• “I was freaking out day after day…my hair started falling off.” [21:35]
• “Manage your expectations. Don’t write something you know you can’t deliver.” [30:58]

Mentioned:

Where the Road Leads on TikTok 

Where the Road Leads on Instagram 

Pointless Films Production House

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Were you hoping work would pick back up after last year’s strikes? Unfortunately, work is epically slow, and 2024 is a rough year for the film industry. But just because Hollywood is slowing down, doesn’t mean you have to.

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

• The industry post-strike
• How higher interest rates are affecting streamers
• The unpredictability of a career in film
• Accepting the things out of your control
• Living with family or friends to lower expenses
• The unattainable “American Dream” 
• Staying creative during this slow year
• How famine years can have their benefits
• An example of finding career success outside of Hollywood

Memorable Quotes

• “Work is epically slow and it’s terrifying.” [3:44]
• “If you don’t have three months of cash cushion in your bank account, do not feel bad.” [19:40]
• “I don’t think we need to build our identity on outside markers of financial success.” [28:21]
• “If you can’t be investing money, you can be investing your energy and creativity into your future career.” [32:52]

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Sam Hargrave is an award winning stuntman and stunt coordinator, second unit director for films like Suicide Squad and Avengers:Endgame, and director of the film Extraction. His second feature film, Extraction 2, is available on Netflix, June 16. 

In this episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins and director Sam Hargrave discuss:

• The transition from stunt performing to directing
• What a “stunt vis” is and why it's important for efficiency and safety on set
• How directing a film is like being a switchboard operator
• Why filming Extraction 2 was more challenging than the first film
• Wanting to give the audience more the second time around
• The specifics to the casting process
• Operating the camera on the more dangerous scenes 
• Landing a helicopter onto a moving train
• Making others feel invested in your project
• Sam’s approach to emailing those he works with

Memorable Quotes

• “I was young and flexible and really wanted to be Jackie Chan.” [4:06]
• “There’s so many questions that come the way of the director. It feels like you are a switchboard operator on methamphetamines.” [10:07]
• “Communication with other departments is one of the most important things in filmmaking.” [11:50]
• “Each movie…is its own unique puzzle. It’s a labyrinth that you and the crew have to work your way through.” [14:34]
• “When you can do something practically, always do it.” [23:12]

Resources:

Extraction 2 trailer

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Heat is important to your film career. It means that you and your work are gaining attention and recognition, which can lead to more opportunities in the future. So how can you generate and navigate heat at an industry level? What contributes to “positive heat” or “negative heat?” 

In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins and Jason Hellerman speak with Chris Moore, Katie Marpe, and Dennis De Nobile to discuss: 

• How Chris, Katie, and Dennis entered the industry and how they met
• Why you need to promote yourself and your work
• The One Moore Hollywood Podcast and the topics they discuss
• The difference between “in the business heat” and “out of the business heat”
• Seeing big corporations gravitating toward original ideas
• How audiences decide whether they will watch a movie or not
• Getting feedback on your ideas
• Why your idea may be better suited for a different medium
• Good Will Hunting - Generating authentic heat with the script
• When you realize a script isn’t working 
• How your attitude and behavior affect the type of heat you generate
• Sensing tension of the cast and crew while watching a movie

Memorable Quotes

• “It’s like surfing. The best thing to do in your career is to read what’s happening around you and take the wave where it’s taking you.” [4:22]
• “You have to be able to sell yourself and your ideas. You can’t just operate in a vacuum and expect somebody to discover you.” [16:12 ]
• “Go out and make something you think you would pay for.” [52:12]
• “What’s the commercial version of your weirdness?” [1:01:28]
• “Heat will come back to you. It will tell you if your shit is good. If you can’t generate any heat, that means your shit is not good.” [1:07:17]

Mentioned:

Follow Chris on IG

Follow Dennis on IG 

Follow Katie on IG 

One Moore Hollywood Podcast on IG

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