The Filmmakers Podcast
by Giles Alderson
A podcast about how to make film and TV by filmmakers who actually make them. Interviewing guests from the film-making world from Indie film to Hollywood and everything in between. Hosts Giles Alderson (The Dare), Dom Lenoir (Winter Ridge) Lucinda Rhodes Thakrar (Wolves of War), Tori & Matthew Butler-Hart (Two Down), Phil Hawkins (Prancer: A Christmas Tale), Stephen Follows (Film Data Analyst), Christian James (Fanged Up), Andy Rodger (Three Day Millionaire) and many others explore the world behind-the-scenes of making films and TV, talking to the actors, writers, directors and producers who make them!
Episodes
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How to Pitch to Film Investors & Demystifying Film Finance, SEIS, EIS, Tax Credits, Recoupment & SPV's on your indie films with Tony Cook, Zak Fenning & Giles Alderson
We are taking a break from the creative side this week to get straight into the hard reality of the industry: the money. If you want to make films, you need to understand how the numbers work. Giles Alderson is joined (in his hotel room) in Bulgaria by Tony Cook and Zak Fenning to completely...
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Directing and writing 'Whalefall' – Brian Duffield & Daniel Kraus on Cinematic Constraints
While Giles is away working on his own feature, the brilliant Conor Boru has stepped into his shoes to co-host (and edit) alongside Dom Lenoir, and they have delivered an absolute belter of an episode. Today, the lads sit down with director and co-writer Brian Duffield and author and co-writer...
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The Academy Masterclasses: Directing 'Tenzing' with Jennifer Peedom & Actress Thinley Lhamo
In the inaugural episode of our brand new series, The Academy Masterclasses, Dom Lenoir sits down with director, writer and producer Jennifer Peedom and actress Thinley Lhamo to discuss the monumental task of bringing the true story of Tenzing to the big screen. Jen shares how her 23-year history...
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Street Fighter Director Kitao Sakurai on Bringing Arcade Chaos to the Big Screen
Filmmakers, welcome to the podcast! We've got a brilliant episode for you today. Dom Lenoir and Conor Boru are sitting down with the incredibly talented Kitao Sakurai. You probably know Kitao's work as the regular director of The Eric Andre Show and the hit film Bad Trip, but he's here to talk...
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Directing Brad Pitt in 'Heart of the Beast' | David Ayer (Fury, Training Day) Returns to TFP
Welcome back to the podcast! This week, host Dom sits down with returning guest and powerhouse filmmaker David Ayer (Fury, End of Watch, Training Day, The Beekeeper) to break down his gripping new survival thriller, Heart of the Beast. Reuniting with his Fury leading man Brad Pitt, Heart of the...
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From 'One Day' to Feature Debut: Molly Manners & Producer Sarah Brocklehurst on Adapting Short Stories, Sundance and Making 'Extra Geography'
Get tickets for SESSIONS Festival Screening at LIFF this Friday 9th Oct at Genesis Cinema in London here: https://genesiscinema.co.uk/event/114469 Filmmakers, welcome back to the podcast! Today we have an absolute treat for you, especially if you love fiercely authentic, character-driven British...
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George MacKay on Sense and Sensibility, Wardrobe Malfunctions & an Acting Masterclass | TFP Mini-Ep
On this special bonus mini-episode, we sit down with the incredible George MacKay (1917, Femme, Captain Fantastic) to talk about his latest role as Edward Ferrars in Georgia Oakley’s stunning adaptation of Sense and Sensibility. George gives us a rapid-fire masterclass in acting, collaboration…
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Directing Sense and Sensibility: Georgia Oakley & Fiona Shaw on the BIG 2nd Feature, the Reality of Period Filmmaking & Cinematic Rigour
Filmmakers, welcome back to the podcast! Today we are tackling a literary masterpiece, but we are looking at it through a completely fresh, vibrant, and fiercely cinematic lens. We are joined by the phenomenally talented director Georgia Oakley and the absolute acting titan, Fiona Shaw. Georgia…
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Bad Apples: Jonatan Etzler on Nailing the Pitch, Transitioning to Features, 17 Shorts, Character Arcs & His English-Language Debut starring Saoirse Ronan
Filmmakers, welcome back to the podcast! Today Giles Alderson is sitting down with director Jonatan Etzler to talk about his brand new feature, Bad Apples. Now, if you want a masterclass in putting in the reps, Jonatan is your guy. He directed 17 short films that played at various festivals,...
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The Business of Film Special: The Hidden UK Indie Boom, Sales Agents & Surviving the Distribution & Box Office Market
Filmmakers, welcome back to the pod! Today we are stripping away the craft and diving headfirst into the absolute engine room of our industry: The Business of Film. Giles Alderson is joined by a massive powerhouse panel to dissect the current state of the market, the realities of raising cash…
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Directing PRACTICAL MAGIC 2: Susanne Bier on Magic, Studio Sequels & A-List Casts + Giles Announces his latest project
Filmmakers, we have an absolutely magical episode for you this week! While Giles Alderson has been out in Bulgaria producing his latest feature film, the brilliant Conor Boru steps into the host chair to sit down with the phenomenal director Susanne Bier to discuss her massive new release,...
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Dexter Fletcher on Indie Debuts to Studio Blockbusters: Rocketman, Ghosted & Directing Action [From the Vault]
[From the Vault] Directing Blockbusters: Dexter Fletcher on Rocketman, Ghosted & Surviving Studio Pressure While we prep our upcoming Business of Film Special, we are unlocking the vault to revisit one of our most popular masterclasses with the brilliant actor-turned-director Dexter Fletcher!...
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Writing, Producing & Directing Bella Ramsey & Neil Patrick Harris: George Jaques on Sunny Dancer & The Second Feature Film Hustle
Leveling Up the Second Feature: George Jaques on Directing, writing and producing Sunny Dancer, Bella Ramsey & Neil Patrick Harris How do you transition from a £500k indie debut to a massive ensemble feature starring some of the biggest names in television and film? This week on The Filmmakers...
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Directing Nimrods: Indie Filmmaking Realities with director and writer Lee Kirk on his Punk Rock Road Trip movie
The Green Day Road Movie: Lee Kirk on Directing Nimrods & Indie Hustle This week on The Filmmakers Podcast, guest host Conor Boru (When the Screaming Starts) sits down with writer and director Lee Kirk to dive deep into the making of his latest feature, Nimrods. Born from an idea pitched by Green...
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From Sitcoms to Feature Films: Screenwriting Secrets with Sean Clements & Directing Tips with Josh Greenbaum as they discuss new comedy 'The Dink'
In this week’s episode of the Filmmaker’s Podcast, host Dom Lenoir takes the reins while Giles Alderson is away in Bulgaria. We are thrilled to welcome back director Josh Greenbaum for an esteemed "hat trick" third appearance on the show, along with actor and screenwriter Sean Clements. We dive...
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The Female Film Club Takeover: Emmy-Winning CD Olissa Rogers & Golden Globe Foundation's Miriam Spritzer chat to FFC hosts Liza van der Smissen & Nicole Lieberman
Welcome to a very special takeover episode of The Filmmakers Podcast! This week, the founders of the Female Film Club, Nicole Lieberman and Liza Van Der Smissen, take over the mic from Giles and Dom! Founded to champion films told from the female gaze, the Female Film Club is an online platform...
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Actors Common & Alexandria Riley talk Silo, On-Set Collaboration, Identity, Conflict, & Show Runner Graham Yost
Welcome back to The Filmmakers Podcast! This week, host Dom Lenoir sits down with actors Common and Alexandria Riley to discuss their complex roles in the hit Apple TV+ sci-fi series, Silo. In this short but sweet episode, we dive deep into the intense psychological journeys of their characters…
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Shooting F1: Jerry Bruckheimer & Eddy Cue on Brad Pitt, Practical Racing, and Apple's Blockbuster Vision
Apple's F1 Strategy: Jerry Bruckheimer & Eddy Cue on Practical Filming, Theatrical Windows, and Brad Pitt How do you shoot a massive Hollywood blockbuster in the middle of a live Formula 1 Grand Prix? This week on The Filmmakers Podcast, Giles Alderson sits down with legendary producer Jerry...
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Surviving Indie Film Weather & Financing: Morgan Matthews Breaks Down the Making of '500 Miles'
From Docs to Drama: Morgan Matthews on Directing 500 Miles & Funding Indie Films How do you take the run-and-gun instincts of a documentary filmmaker and apply them to a highly structured narrative feature? This week on The Filmmakers Podcast, Giles Alderson sits down with the phenomenal writer…
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Directing Indie Folk Horror: Alex Noyer on Funding, 40% Tax Rebates, Two-Camera Setups, Ensemble Casts and his latest indie film 'Love is The Monster'
Noyer on filmmaking, Tax Incentives, Folk Horror, and Directing Love is the Monster What do you do when your folk horror film is deeply rooted in Finnish mythology, but the financing dictates you have to shoot it in Canada? You adapt, you pivot, and you get your movie made. This week on The...
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The New Rules of Hollywood AI: Jonathan Yunger on Billion-Dollar Slates, Streamer-Approved AI, Arcana Labs and John Rambo
How do you protect the human craft of storytelling while navigating a global independent market that is rapidly contracting? This week, Giles Alderson and Phil Hawkins sit down for an incredibly candid, wide-ranging masterclass with Jonathan Yunger—President of Millennium Media and co-founder of...
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How to Direct A-List Talent: Ol Parker on Office Romance, Rom-Coms, Rejection & Set Etiquette
How to Direct A-List Talent: Ol Parker on Rom-Coms, Rejection & Set Etiquette How do you maintain your creative voice while directing some of the biggest movie stars on the planet? This week, Giles Alderson and Dom Lenoir sit down with Hollywood hitmaker Ol Parker to unpack the business of making...
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Business of Film: The New Rules of Film Financing: AI, Gen Z, and Getting Your Movie Made | What we learnt from Cannes and What Movie Distributors Actually Want!
Filmmakers! Welcome back to a very special Business of Film edition of The Filmmakers Podcast. Today, we are cutting through the absolute nonsense and delivering a survival guide for how to fund, produce, and sell an independent film in the current market. Host Giles Alderson is joined by an…
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From Shorts to Docs to Features with Oscar Winner Daniel Roher on Directing Leo Woodall & Dustin Hoffman in 'Tuner'
From Oscar Gold to Fiction Filmmaking: Daniel Roher on Tuner How do you follow up winning an Academy Award? If you are Daniel Roher (Navalny), you resist the pressure to stay in your lane, take a leaf out of Bob Dylan’s book, and make a massive leap into fiction! This week on The Filmmakers...
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The Making of RIVALS: Mega-Episode with Alex Hassell, Nafessa Williams, Katherine Parkinson, Bella Maclean & diretor Elliot Hegarty & writer Laura Wade on the Disney+ Hit
The Making of RIVALS: Cast & Creators on the Disney+ Smash Hit Grab your shoulder pads and pour a glass of champagne! This week on The Filmmakers Podcast, we are doing a massive takeover of the show everyone is talking about: the phenomenal Disney+ adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s legendary novel,...
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Joanne Mitchell: From Acting to Producing Indies to Directing 'Broken Bird', Shooting in Serbia & The Actor-Director Relationship
Joanne Mitchell on Broken Bird, Directing in Serbia, and the Actor-Director Journey How do you take a story set in the rolling hills and local pubs of Northern England and shoot it entirely in Belgrade, Serbia? This week on The Filmmakers Podcast, Giles Alderson sits down with actor, producer…
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David Frankel: Directing The Devil Wears Prada, Casting Emily Blunt & Trusting Actors
Directing The Devil Wears Prada, Studio Pressures, and Trusting Your Cast with David Frankel How do you adapt when a major studio cuts your post-production schedule by six weeks? This week on The Filmmakers Podcast, Giles Alderson sits down with Oscar-winning director David Frankel (The Devil…
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How to Self-Finance & Distribute an Indie Thriller you shot in 8 days - 'Empire of Lies' with Matthew Hope & Joseph Millson
Empire of Lies: Making an Indie Thriller on a Shoestring with Matthew Hope & Joseph Millson What happens when an established action director strips everything away to make a micro-budget thriller in just 8 days? This week on The Filmmakers Podcast, Giles Alderson sits down with director Matthew...
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Brian Cox: The Acting Legend on Directing His Debut Feature Glenrothan, Acting, Directing and Editing Secrets & Trusting Your Crew
Brian Cox on Directing Glenrothan, Trusting Your Collaborators, and the Magic of the Edit Filmmakers, you are in for an absolute treat today. We are joined by a true titan of the industry, the legendary Brian Cox. After decades of delivering iconic performances on stage and screen, Brian sits…
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How a low budget Indie Horror became an A24 Box Office Smash: Ian Tuason on 'Undertone', audio horror & landing 'Paranormal Activity 8'
"The ultimate indie film success story! Writer and director Ian Tuason joins Giles Alderson to discuss his massive breakout horror hit, Undertone. Made for just $500,000, Undertone sparked a bidding war at Fantasia Fest, was acquired by A24 in a 7-figure deal, and is now crushing the global box...
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From a $150k Indie to making massive Box Office Hits, Directing Rom-Coms & Making 'You, Me & Tuscany' with Kat Coiro and Will Packer
How to Make a Hit Rom-Com: Will Packer & Kat Coiro on You, Me & Tuscany Are romantic comedies officially making a massive comeback? This week on The Filmmakers Podcast, we sit down with powerhouse producer Will Packer (Girls Trip, Ride Along, Straight Outta Compton) and hitmaking director Kat…
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Aaron Taylor-Johnson & David Mackenzie: The Making of FUZE & Acting and Directing Without Rules
The Unconventional Making of FUZE with Aaron Taylor-Johnson & David Mackenzie How do you craft the perfect anti-hero? In this episode of The Filmmakers Podcast, host Dom Lenoir sits down with Golden Globe-winning actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kick Ass Tenet), and Academy Award-nominated director...
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Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett on Ready or Not 2, Scream, and Directing as a Duo
The kings of modern horror-comedy are here! Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (the filmmaking collective Radio Silence who made Scream and Scream VI) join Dom Lenoir and Conor Boru to discuss their blood-soaked new theatrical hit, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come (2026). In this...
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How to Direct Romance & Drama: Vanessa Caswill on Adapting a Bestseller 'Reminders of Him'
In this episode, host Conor Boru sits down with director Vanessa Caswill to discuss her latest feature, Reminders of Him. Vanessa is an English director and screenwriter known for her work across television and film, including the BBC miniseries Thirteen, Little Women, and the feature Love at...
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RE-RELEASE 'Hamnet' Producer Liza Marshall on How to Produce TV dramas with Temple, Riviera, Taboo
We are delighted re-release this episode with Hamnet producer and TV producer Liza Marshall as she gears up for the Oscars this week! Hosted by Giles Alderson and co-host Dom Lenoir, we sit down and chat about her experience as a producer and how she went about making TV dramas such as 'The…
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Episode 500 Special! Filmmaking Advice: Audience Q&A, IndieFilm determination & Director Secrets with Giles Alderson, Dom Lenoir and Phil Hawkins
We made it to Episode 500! 🎉 After 9 years, over 600 hours of audio, and interviews with hundreds of the greatest directors, writers, actors and producers in the world, The Filmmakers Podcast is celebrating its 500th episode the best way we know how: by turning the microphones over to YOU. In…
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Steven Knight & Hannah Walters: Creating A Thousand Blows, Peaky Blinders & Boiling Point
On this weeks The Filmmakers Podcast are legendary creator Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders) and powerhouse actress/producer Hannah Walters (Boiling Point) who join Dom Lenoir (Winter Ridge) to discuss their hit Disney+ series, A Thousand Blows (2026). We delve into the true history of the Forty...
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Making a microbudget indiefilm, Crowdfunding to Apple TV: The Story of 'Time Rewind' with writer-director Lincoln Fenner & actor Tim Cullingworth-Hudson
In this episode, hosts Giles Alderson and Dom Lenoir sit down with writer-director-producer Lincoln Fenner and lead actor Tim Cullingworth-Hudson to talk about their time-travel feature Time Rewind (2025) — an ambitious independent film made on a very limited budget that went on to win multiple...
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How Bart Layton Turned a Novella into an 85% Rotten Tomatoes Hit with latest feature film Crime 101
BAFTA-winning filmmaker Bart Layton (The Imposter, American Animals) joins Giles Alderson and Dom Lenoir to discuss his massive new crime thriller, Crime 101 (2026). In this deep-dive interview, Bart reveals how he assembled a powerhouse cast including Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Halle Berry,...
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The Nun Director Corin Hardy: From Music Videos to Sundance to Hollywood Horror 'WHISTLE'
In this episode, host Giles Alderson (The Dare) sits down with acclaimed director Corin Hardy for an in-depth conversation about craft, career trajectory, and working within the horror genre. Corin Hardy is an award-winning filmmaker, illustrator, sculptor, and writer known for a striking visual...
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SEND HELP: Sam Raimi (Evil Dead), Zainab Azizi & actor Dylan O’Brien on creating an Original Thriller for Cinema
Welcome back to The Filmmakers Podcast!Filmmakers, today is a massive double-header. We are taking a deep dive into the survival horror sensation that everyone is talking about: Send Help.In the first half, we are joined by the architectural minds behind the film. First, he is a man who needs no...
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Making the BAFTA-Nominated 'I SWEAR': Producers Piers Tempest & Georgia Bayliff + Director Kirk Jones
In this special episode, we go behind the scenes of the 6-time BAFTA-nominated film I Swear (2026) with the filmmaking team! In Part 1, Giles Alderson and Dom Lenoir sit down with producers Piers Tempest (The Wife, William Tell) and Georgia Bayliff (Paradise Highway) from Tempo Productions. They...
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Oppenheimer, Mercy & The Dark Knight trilogy producer Chuck Roven: From humble begginings to Winning the Oscar.
The reigning Academy Award winner for Best Picture joins the show! Legendary producer Charles "Chuck" Roven (Oppenheimer, The Dark Knight Trilogy) sits down with Giles Alderson to discuss his pulsing new sci-fi thriller, Mercy (starring Chris Pratt & Rebecca Ferguson). In this masterclass on...
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The Reality of Low-Budget Filmmaking: Making "A Gangster's Life" with Tony Cook & Zak Fenning
In this special episode, host (and Executive Producer!) Giles Alderson sits down with actor/producer Tony Cook (Dune: Part Two) and director Zak Fenning to break down the making of their new British crime-comedy, A Gangster's Life. Joined by fellow filmmakers Dom Lenoir the team reveals exactly…
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Nia DaCosta: Directing 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple & Taking Over from Danny Boyle
Director Nia DaCosta (Candyman, The Marvels) joins Giles Alderson and Dom Lenoir to discuss directing the massive horror sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. In this deep-dive interview, Nia breaks down the incredible pressure and privilege of taking the baton from Danny Boyle for Part 2 of…
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Paul Schrader: 'Taxi Driver' & 'Raging Bull' writer on Screenwriting, Directing and shooting his latest film Oh, Canada in Just 17 Days.
Legendary writer-director Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, First Reformed) joins Giles Alderson & Dom Lenoir to discuss his powerful new film, Oh, Canada. In this exclusive masterclass, Paul reveals how he shot the complex, multi-timeline drama in just 17 days and why he reunited with...
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Hikari: Directing Brendan Fraser in Rental Family & Creating Netflix's Beef PLUS Award Season Discussion
Director Hikari (Beef, Tokyo Vice) joins The Filmmakers Podcast to discuss her new film Rental Family and working with Brendan Fraser. In this inspiring interview, Hikari breaks down her unique journey with Dom Lenoir to chat her journey from stunt extra to award-winning director. She discusses…
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James L. Brooks: Directing Ella McCay, The Simpsons, Emma Mackey & Writing Honest Dialogue
It's 2026! Welcome back to The Filmmakers Podcast! The legendary James L. Brooks (Creator of 'The Simpsons', Director of 'As Good as It Gets') sits down with Conor Boru and Francis Annan to discuss his first film in 15 years, 'Ella McCay'. In this exclusive interview, the 3-time Oscar winner…
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What will 2026 hold for Filmmakers | XMAS QUIZ | Industry Insights with your HOSTS
In this regular festive episode of The Filmmakers Podcast, the hosts and guests engage in light-hearted banter, share personal updates, and discuss the joys and challenges of filmmaking, the TOP TEN podcast episodes of the year AND they compete in the ANNUAL QUIZ! Who will win (again?) Our hosts...
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The Duffer Brothers: Creating STRANGER THINGS, Directing the Finale, and Surviving Hollywood Rejection
Filmmakers, we have the creators of the biggest show on the planet. The masterminds who took 80s nostalgia, Dungeons & Dragons, and a group of kids on bikes, and turned it into a global empire. I am talking, of course, about Matt and Ross Duffer—The Duffer Brothers! Now, you know them as the...
About this show
A podcast about how to make film and TV by filmmakers who actually make them. Interviewing guests from the film-making world from Indie film to Hollywood and everything in between. Hosts Giles Alderson (The Dare), Dom Lenoir (Winter Ridge) Lucinda Rhodes Thakrar (Wolves of War), Tori & Matthew Butler-Hart (Two Down), Phil Hawkins (Prancer: A Christmas Tale), Stephen Follows (Film Data Analyst), Christian James (Fanged Up), Andy Rodger (Three Day Millionaire) and many others explore the world behind-the-scenes of making films and TV, talking to the actors, writers, directors and producers who make them!
Hosted by
Giles Alderson