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The MAKE IT Podcast: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Chris Barkley & Nicholas Buggs
MAKE IT is the film podcast that provides a behind-the-scenes look at the filmmaking process. We dive into indie gems, massive blockbusters, cinema history, and everything in between. If you love movies and want more than polite chit-chat, this is your spot.
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- 1 weeks ago25 min
SUMMARIES - Lee Abrams - Why Fans Reject Safe Media And Human Taste Beats the Algorithm
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. #MAKEIThttps://themakeitpodcast.store/newsletterHello, Hello!In this episode, AI Hosts Alex Ivey and Allison Inverness explore Lee Abrams’ path from a teenage radio enthusiast to a media innovator who challenged conventional formats. The conversation explains how audience observation, creative judgment, and careful programming helped build passionate fans. It also considers whether his approach can reshape television news and remain distinctive in an age of AI-generated media.We also talk about:How a WQAM summer job exposed Abrams to radio operations and the frustrations of AM Top 40.His callback-card research and the principle that data should verify creative choices rather than originate them.The difference between users and fans, and why sequencing turns content into programming.XM’s 89 studios, 2.5 million-song library, and the story of blues programmer Bill Wax meeting B.B. King.Abrams’ Tribune Company experience, AFDI, the creative batting average, and the challenge of making News Fix credible and compelling. People, Places, Products, and References Mentioned:PeopleLee AbramsBuzz BennettHenry FordChris SquireJon Anderson Bill WaxB.B. KingTed NugentBarbra StreisandStanley KubrickProjects & OrganizationsOriginal MAKE IT episode with Lee Abrams (2021) CelebrityAccessNewsFix XM Satellite RadioTribune CompanyWQAMWLSYesThe OnionConcepts & TechnologyAlbum-oriented rock (AOR)AM radio / FM radioIBM serversSpotifyAI-generated contentPlaces & Cultural ReferencesThe MidwestMetallicaChicago Symphony Orchestra2001: A Space OdysseySgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club BandAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
- 2 weeks ago1h 49m
448 - 25 Years After 9/11: The Doc Narrated by Gary Sinise | Michael Gier on Losing Everything and Starting Over at 40
This episode is brought to you by Storyblocks! Storyblocks is a 100% human-made stock media library that’s essential for creators with millions of professionally curated assets — footage, music, sound effects, templates, and images. Everything is pre-licensed and ready to use under one subscription.Head to storyblocks.com/makeit to access the human-made stock media library that’s essential to our workflow. For a limited time, get 15% OFF any annual plan!This episode is brought to you by MAKE IT Academy. Get access to 200+ courses today at https://themakeitpodcast.com/pages/academy and use code: ACADEMY50 for 50% off the Academy for a year! Hello, Hello! In this episode, filmmaker and former performer Michael Gier explains how he made his documentary The Heroism and Resiliency of 9/11: From Tragedy to Triumph. He shares stories of first responders, civilians, Flight 93, the boat lift, and rare footage from the Pentagon. The conversation also explores creative careers, rejection, film school, entrepreneurship, and what it means to MAKE IT.We also talk about:The personal stories behind the documentary, including Will Jimeno’s rescue, the “Man in the Red Bandana,” and Lauren Grankolus’s voicemail.Michael’s journey from theater and television to building Geier Productions after losing his real-estate business in the 2008 crash.Lessons from Wounded Heroes, including Michael’s search for treatments that help people living with post-traumatic stress.The “Praise You” video, the Torrance Community Dancers, Spike Jonze’s Richard Koufey persona, and the group’s three MTV Video Music Awards.Michael’s advice on versatility, business skills, collaboration, learning by doing, and staying grounded through career setbacks.People, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned:People — Show & FamilyMichael GierTerri GierPeople — 9/11Will JimenoScott Strauss (NYPD ESU)Sgt. John McLoughlinLauren Grandcolas & Jack GrandcolasWelles Crowther Jules and Gédéon NaudetPavel HlavaWolfgang StaehleJude KochPeople — Performers & FilmmakersGregory HinesSpike Jonze Sofia CoppolaFrancis Ford CoppolaWayne NewtonElton JohnDeidre HallLouie AndersonZach GalifianakisGary Sinise Sean PennChristopher NolanPaul Thomas AndersonMatt DamonNicolas CageMartin ShortJohn MaddenPeople — Other Public Figure
- 3 weeks ago15 min
SUMMARIES - Julius Ritter - The Permissionless Revolution & When Zero Dollars Isn’t Zero Vision
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. #MAKEIThttps://themakeitpodcast.store/newsletterHello, Hello!In this episode, AI Hosts Alex Ivey and Allison Inverness explore Julius Ritter’s evolution from biracial child and working actor to independent writer-director. The conversation examines permissionless work, zero-budget filmmaking, creative solitude, and the search for timeless artistic themes. It is essential listening for filmmakers who want to build original work without waiting for industry approval.We also talk about:How being labeled can lead an artist to invent new worlds and identities.Why Ritter paused Sock and Buskin to pursue a $100,000 GoFundMe.The relationship between casting debates, colorism, representation, and working artists’ livelihoods.Why internet slang can date a screenplay while universal themes remain accessible.How solitude prepares a creative blueprint before collaboration brings it to life. People, Places, Products, and References Mentioned:PeopleJulius Charles Ritter (also on TMDB)Terry JinglesRob ReinerQuentin TarantinoWilliam ShakespeareSoulja BoyActing CreditsGap (Gap Kids)CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationLike Mike Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life The Master of Disguise His Own FilmsSock & Buskin Sock and Buskin Film Fund (GoFundMe)Mr. MiseryAmericana, White SheetsWhat Did Deborah Do? Organizations & PlatformsFord ModelsGoFundMeMammoth Film FestivalReferences & PlacesLooney TunesSock and buskin HollywoodLos AngelesAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
- 3 weeks ago42 min
Bonus Episode: 48 Hour Film Project Winner Allison Alonzo on How to Make a Film in 48 Hours
This episode is brought to you by MAKE IT Academy. Get access to 200+ courses today at https://themakeitpodcast.com/pages/academy and use code: ACADEMY50 for 50% off the Academy for a year! Hello, Hello! In this episode, Allison Alonso explains how she led her first 48 Hour Film Project as a director and won with Falling Short. She breaks down the competition’s strict rules, the creative decisions behind the film, and the practical realities of making a short film in 48 hours. The conversation also explores filmmaking careers, crew leadership, food on set, film influences, and what it means to make it.We also talk about:How the 48 Hour Film Project assigns the same prop, required phrase, and character details to every team.Why Allison chose fantasy over dystopia/utopia and how the team made a tomato work at a gas station location.The importance of feeding a crew, from Mexican bowls at lunch to Hunts Brothers pizza at 2 a.m.How a production team can protect a story’s twist by listening to actors and department heads during shooting.Why Allison sees the project as a return to film after taking a job at Vanderbilt University for stability, health insurance, paid time off, and a break from the industry.People, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned:Falling Short Raiders of the Lost ArkE.T. the Extra-TerrestrialEternal Sunshine of the Spotless MindJawsShort CircuitNapoleon DynamiteBarbieTenetThe Green KnightBlack KnightComing to AmericaFood & BrandsHunt Brothers PizzaDomino’sGabby’s Burgers & FriesEmmy SquaredBig MacSupericaPizookie PeopleAllison AlonzoEmElise KnappMartin LawrenceSteven SpielbergJordan ChateauConnor BaconSeth ShepardJones KolbinskiJake GilbertMariah KramerAlfonso RibeiroTia A. SmithSchoolsVanderbilt UniversityBelmont UniversityCarnegie Mellon UniversityFilm Events & Organizations<a href="htt
- Oct 2, 20261h 54m
447 - What Money Can’t Fix on a Film Set, Why People Need People, and Creative Sets, AI, and Staying Weird - Nichole Marie Lim
This episode is brought to you by MAKE IT Academy. Get access to 200+ courses today at https://themakeitpodcast.com/pages/academy and use code: ACADEMY50 for 50% off the Academy for a year! Hello, Hello! In this episode, we speak with Nashville filmmaker Nicole Marie Lim about building a career across makeup, writing, producing, and directing. Nicole explains how supportive relationships, practical set skills, and respectful leadership shape better creative work. The conversation also examines AI, vertical video, mid-budget filmmaking, actor chemistry, and what it means to make it without losing the joy of creating.We also talk about:How makeup artists can prepare for their first professional set.Why continuity, schedules, and department-specific language matter.The limits of glamour, fame, and money in filmmaking.Why directors should trust department heads and communicate according to individual needs.How chemistry reads can reveal unexpected casting choices.People, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned:PeopleNichole Marie Lim (also IMDb) Joy ToddDavid LimMichelle LimJohn AugustCraig MazinJim HensonJ.K. SimmonsBrad PittDavid AyerStephen NorringtonTim BurtonChristopher NolanZendayaRobert PattinsonMilla JovovichViola DavisBrands & ProductsMy Kit CoRCMA MakeupSenna CosmeticsListerineAltoidsHer ProjectsCheckmate, The Way Back Down, Mom Cult, American Quilt ContestFilmsHolland (2025)BladeThe League of Extraordinary GentlemenThe MigrantMarie AntoinetteAmélieRomeo + Juliet The Sound of MusicThe Expendables 2SinnersThe 'BurbsPoor ThingsThe OdysseyOppenheimerGrizzly ManJaws<a href
- Sep 29, 202621 min
SUMMARIES - Keith McDaniel - How he made "The Clinton 12," Cast James Earl Jones, and Why Local Beats Bigger
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. #MAKEITSubscribe: https://themakeitpodcast.store/shop/supportHello, Hello!In this episode, AI Hosts Alex Ivey and Allison Inverness examine Keith McDaniel’s path from singer, designer, and scriptwriter to documentary filmmaker and community leader. They explore how he learned filmmaking without formal training, documented complex Tennessee history, and built a sustainable local film festival. The conversation also connects creative independence with health, discipline, and the possibility that starting late can mean starting prepared.We also talk about:How a poor first documentary can still reveal the right creative medium.Why interviewing original Oakridgers preserved primary historical testimony.How James Earl Jones added credibility and distribution power to The Clinton 12.Why Keith treated 40 film festivals as research laboratories rather than applause tours.How the seven-day shootout created audience ownership through participation. People, Places, Products, and References Mentioned:Keith McDaniel (also IMDb)James Earl Jones Ken BurnsFilms & ProjectsThe Clinton 12 Secret City: The Oak Ridge Story The Belmont Reasons Companies & OrganizationsSecret City FilmsSecret City Film Festival Knoxville Film FestivalDogwood ArtsDiscoveryJupiter EntertainmenteBayMotel 6PlacesOak Ridge, TennesseeRoane County, TennesseeKnoxville, TennesseeRegal Downtown West Cinema 8History & ConceptsBrown v. Board of EducationManhattan ProjectVHSSlow-carb dietAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
- Sep 18, 20261h 34m
446 - Isabel Hagen on Making 'On a String', Winning Tribeca, Cancel Culture, and Surviving Stand‑Up
This episode is brought to you by Anthropic. Claude is the AI for minds that don’t stop at good enough—it's the collaborator that actually understands your entire workflow and thinks WITH you, not for you. Ready to tackle bigger problems? Sign up for Claude Pro when you use our link – www.claude.ai/makeitThis episode is brought to you by our e-book Mastering Film Marketing. Get your copy today at https://themakeitpodcast.com/products/mastering-film-marketing. Use the Discount code: NASHFILM20 for 20% off EVERYTHING at themakeitpodcast.comHello, Hello! In this episode, Isabel Hagen joins us to discuss her work as a comedian, filmmaker, and classically trained violist. She explains how her freelance music career inspired the feature film On a String, which premiered at Tribeca and won Best Screenplay in the U.S. Narrative Competition. The conversation also explores comedy in the age of clips, creative persistence, protecting real people in fiction, film criticism, artistic identity, and what it means to make it.We also talk about:Turning experiences from weddings, funerals, and private music gigs into heightened comedic characters and situations.Why live comedy benefits from audiences putting their phones away while performers test unfinished material.Isabel’s process for becoming a stronger comedian through open mics, recordings, repeated performance, and daily review.The creative lessons she draws from Paul Thomas Anderson, including the scale of One Battle After Another and the score of Phantom Thread.How nostalgia, streaming overload, and the paradox of choice influence how audiences rewatch their favorite movies.People, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned:PeopleIsabel Hagen (isabelhagen.com)Brandon Tamburri William PrimrosePaul Thomas AndersonMaria BamfordMarina AbramovićLana Del ReyFilms & TVOn a StringThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonOne Battle After AnotherPhantom ThreadHappinessThe OmenThe Parent Trap GoodfellasChallengersSaltburnIt's a Wonderful LifeThe Princess BrideFerris Bueller's Day OffThe NeverEnding StoryThe Dukes of HazzardCompanies & OrganizationsJoke ZeroTribeca Film FestivalThe Juilliard SchoolNBC Symphony Orchestra<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood_Walk_of_Fame" rel="n
- Sep 16, 202611 min
Film Brief - Who Is Stan Smith? - The Man Behind the Three Stripes
WHAT IS FILM BRIEF?Blending journalism with artistry, Film Brief transforms film analysis into an engaging and informative listening experience. The goal is to reveal what makes each movie or series resonate—on screen and behind the scenes. For listeners, it’s not just a review; it’s an exploration of the art of filmmaking.BRIEF:In this episode, Nick reviews Who Is Stan Smith?, Danny Lee’s documentary about the tennis champion whose name became attached to one of the world’s most recognizable sneakers. The film moves from athletic achievement and fashion history to Stan Smith’s friendship with Arthur Ashe, humanitarian work, and commitment to players’ rights. The conversation ultimately asks what kind of signature each person leaves behind when fame and branding are stripped away.TAKEAWAYS:Smith’s rise from Southern California and USC tennis to former world number one.His 1971 U.S. Open victory, 1972 Wimbledon victory, five U.S. Open titles across singles and doubles, and eight championship Davis Cup teams.The open era of professional tennis and the movement for greater player control.Smith’s 1973 Wimbledon boycott after Nikola Pilic was suspended.The sneaker’s adoption by musicians, artists, designers, and fashion communities.MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:The FilmWho Is Stan Smith?Danny LeeRebecca HalpernPeopleStan SmithArthur AsheJohn McEnroeDarryl "DMC" McDanielsPharrell WilliamsNiki Pilić Products & BrandsAdidas Stan SmithRun-DMCInstitutions & EventsUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUS OpenWimbledonDavis CupEbook: "Mastering Film Marketing"The MAKE IT PodcastWe 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 us, or leaving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEITAll Links: www.themakeitpodcast.store/shop/supportAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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About The MAKE IT Podcast
MAKE IT is the film podcast that provides a behind-the-scenes look at the filmmaking process. We dive into indie gems, massive blockbusters, cinema history, and everything in between. If you love movies and want more than polite chit-chat, this is your spot.
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