The Art of Iteration with Pixar’s Pete Docter

In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, GG Hawkins presents two riveting conversations that push boundaries and challenge cultural taboos. First, she interviews Michael Taylor Jackson, writer, director, and star of the radically inventive film Orange Underground (Bajo Naranja), a satirical, punk-infused narrative born out of the Argentine quarantine. Then, she speaks with Kate Downey, creator and host of the podcast CRAMPED, which explores the hidden pain and social invisibility surrounding menstruation. Together, these conversations highlight how bold, personal storytelling can become an act of protest and empowerment. In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins and guests discuss... How Orange Underground merges satire, street art, and protest cinema to confront U.S. neocolonialism The creative process of blending real-life social media storytelling with scripted filmmaking How Argentina's unique film funding system and underground economy supported an international indie film Kate Downey’s journey from theater to podcasting, and how CRAMPED sheds light on the mystery of period pain Why menstruation remains a cultural and cinematic taboo, and how media can normalize it through better representation The power of representation in shaping societal understanding of women's health and lived experiences Memorable Quotes: “We were able to develop a virtual community because we couldn’t obviously live together.” “When half the population experiences something regularly, shouldn’t they be reflected honestly in our storytelling?” “There is no word other than an ignorant word to describe ourselves.” “Is there any more common experience that has not been hit to death, right?” Guests: Michael Taylor Jackson Kate Downey Resources: Bajo Naranja on Instagram CRAMPED: Why Doesn't Media Talk About Period Pain? Find No Film School everywhere: On the Web: No Film School Facebook: No Film School on Facebook Twitter: No Film School on Twitter YouTube: No Film School on YouTube Instagram: No Film School on Instagram  📩 Send us an email with questions or feedback: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, GG Hawkins sits down with Emmy and ACE Eddie-nominated editor Isaac Hagy, whose emotionally charged and visually inventive work includes Waves, Atlanta, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and The Friend. Known for his moody and immersive editing style, Hagy shares how he found his voice as an editor, the unconventional path that led him to Atlanta, and the creative and technical strategies that shape his work. He also dives into his Adobe Premiere workflow, the importance of collaboration, and how intuition—and his pit bull Blue—help fuel his storytelling. In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins and guest Isaac Hagy discuss... How Hagy’s religious upbringing led to his first foray into filmmaking The unorthodox path from critical studies major to documentary editor Jumping from music videos to the groundbreaking series Atlanta Why Hagy chooses Premiere Pro and how he builds intuitive workflows Collaborating remotely and the magic of edit dogs like Blue The creative process behind The Friend and working with indie auteurs The importance of collaboration, mentorship, and finding your crew Memorable Quotes: "My dog carries so much emotional baggage. Yeah, he's an essential part of the editing room." "I try to think like... what is the conventional way of cutting this? And then maybe what is an interesting outside-the-box way of cutting it?" "You're not going to come crashing through the back door by doing something very conventional." "Premiere works the way my brain works... I don't think about editing when I'm editing in Premiere." Guest: Isaac Hagy Resources: The Friend (2024) Montana Story (2021) Clapping for the Wrong Reasons Sirens on Netflix Find No Film School everywhere: On the Web: No Film School Facebook: No Film School on Facebook Twitter: No Film School on Twitter YouTube: No Film School on YouTube Instagram: No Film School on Instagram 📩 Send us an email with questions or feedback: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, GG Hawkins sits down with Derick Rhodes, VP of Community at Vimeo, to dive into how Vimeo continues to be a crucial hub for independent filmmakers. Derick reveals the behind-the-scenes process of how Vimeo Staff Picks are curated, the platform’s renewed focus on supporting creators, and the company’s evolving role in global film culture. From new streaming options to global partnerships and grassroots community support, this conversation paints a comprehensive picture of where Vimeo is heading and why it remains vital for indie creatives. In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins and guest Derick Rhodes discuss... The origin story of Derick’s involvement with Vimeo and his background in indie filmmaking How Vimeo balances creator tools with community-building and high-level business solutions The human-led process behind Staff Picks and how to get noticed Vimeo’s new global partnerships and outreach efforts in places like Brazil and Japan The newly launched streaming and monetization tools for filmmakers A candid look at Derick’s own micro-budget filmmaking journey Advice on how to get involved with the Vimeo creator community and maximize the platform Memorable Quotes: “We don’t staff pick using algorithms… it’s all a team of people at the company that are obsessed with short films.” “Making shorts is taking yourself to film school, especially when you're doing it in a low-stakes way.” “Nobody is coming to pick you out of the crowd and take you to the path of like, you're going to be a film director now.” “We want to be an open playground and have people do work that's just playful and inspiring and try weird stuff.” Guests: Derick Rhodes - VP of Community, Vimeo Resources: Vimeo Staff Picks Moomin by Zach Dorn Yes, Daddy Podcast episode: Why Indie Film Distribution Is About To Go Punk Rock Find No Film School everywhere: On the Web: No Film School Facebook: No Film School on Facebook Twitter: No Film School on Twitter YouTube: No Film School on YouTube Instagram: No Film School on Instagram  📩 Send us an email with questions or feedback: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, GG Hawkins speaks with writer-director Alessandra Lacorazza about her award-winning film In the Summers, which took home both the U.S. Grand Jury Prize and Best Director at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Lacorazza shares the deeply personal roots of the film, the tumultuous road to production, and the pressures of staying true to a creative vision in the face of industry challenges. The conversation dives into casting across timelines, editorial discovery, and the intense final days before Sundance. It's an intimate and inspiring look at how a deeply personal, quietly powerful film almost didn't get made—and why it ultimately resonated so profoundly. In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins and guest Alessandra Lacorazza discuss... The semi-autobiographical inspiration behind In the Summers Creating emotionally complex characters and tender portrayals of masculinity Casting multiple actors for the same role across time The chaotic production process and financial uncertainty before filming How Alessandra balanced creative integrity with commercial pressures Editing discoveries, including changing the film’s ending after test screenings What it was like to win at Sundance—while sick and alone The unexpected emotional reach of the film across different demographics Advice for emerging filmmakers on trusting collaborators and staying clear on your vision Memorable Quotes: “I just knew I couldn’t make this film with that suggestion... I’d rather not make it because it won’t be good.” “Making the film was harder than having a baby.” “There’s no real villain, and you just leave the audience to make up their own mind.” “If you don’t [know your story], you’re going to get lost in the maze, and then your editing process is going to be a lot more complicated.” Guest: Alessandra Lacorazza Resources: In the Summers is now available to stream on Hulu. Find No Film School everywhere: On the Web: No Film School Facebook: No Film School on Facebook Twitter: No Film School on Twitter YouTube: No Film School on YouTube Instagram: No Film School on Instagram 📩 Send us an email with questions or feedback: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the No Film School Podcast, GG Hawkins sits down with Pete Docter, Chief Creative Officer at Pixar Animation Studios and the visionary behind films like Monsters, Inc., Up, Inside Out, and Soul. The conversation dives deep into the creative process behind Pixar’s latest original feature Elio, and how Pixar’s iterative storytelling model has evolved over the years. Pete shares actionable insights on how filmmakers—whether working at a major studio or independently—can embrace change, vulnerability, and creative discovery to build resonant stories. In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins and guest Pete Docter discuss... How Pete Docter chose Pixar over Disney and The Simpsons early in his career The iterative story process at Pixar and how it has shaped Elio The importance of balancing imaginative worlds with relatable emotional storytelling How Pixar greenlights projects by betting on people rather than ideas The evolving leadership strategies that support creativity and collaboration Why vulnerability is key to character empathy and story resonance How emerging filmmakers can use these Pixar principles in their own work Memorable Quotes: "Go to a small place where one person has a huge effect." "Every idea is good until you have to tell it to somebody else." "At some point, it is more about tenacity than talent." "Don't try to make and analyze at the same time." Guests: Pete Docter Resources: Pixar’s Elio Find No Film School everywhere: On the Web: No Film School Facebook: No Film School on Facebook Twitter: No Film School on Twitter YouTube: No Film School on YouTube Instagram: No Film School on Instagram 📩 Send us an email with questions or feedback: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Filmmakers Peter Hall and Paul Gandersman join No Film School's GG Hawkins to discuss their chilling feature debut Man Finds Tape, premiering in the “Escape from Tribeca” section at the 2025 Tribeca Festival. The Texas-based writer-director duo explores their found-footage horror hybrid, rooted in documentary realism and intimate character drama. They dive deep into the film’s decade-long evolution, DIY production tactics, narrative experimentation, and the collaborative scrappiness that made their micro-budget creature feature resonate on a grand scale. In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins and guests discuss: How a shelved podcast idea evolved into a Tribeca-premiering feature film Using documentary experience to inform a found-footage horror aesthetic Why keeping a tight creative circle allowed for fast, agile production decisions Shooting scenes with GoPros and iPhones for final edits—and why it works Casting actors willing to dive into a highly iterative, experimental process Crafting practical and VFX-driven creature moments that elevate low-budget horror Editing techniques that treat the narrative as a real documentary-in-progress How found footage can stay emotionally grounded and narratively justified Memorable Quotes: "There cannot be a point at which the audience says, why are they still filming?" "We were willing to let it sound like shit in parts, and it ended up not having to." "We threw out a lot of the lavs and just used on-camera MiniDV audio. It felt 10 times more real." "What we make is not Peter’s voice or my voice—it’s a third voice." Guests: Peter S. Hall Paul Gandersman Resources: Man Finds Tape at Tribeca XYZ Films Boards Tribeca Horror Feature Man Finds Tape Find No Film School everywhere: On the Web: No Film School Facebook: No Film School on Facebook Twitter: No Film School on Twitter YouTube: No Film School on YouTube Instagram: No Film School on Instagram 📩 Send us an email with questions or feedback: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, GG Hawkins is joined by writer-director duo (and real-life couple) David Joseph Craig and Brian Crano to discuss their new film I Don’t Understand You, a genre-bending dark comedy starring Nick Kroll and Andrew Rannells. The film follows a couple on a babymoon in Italy that spirals into chaos and violence. Craig and Crano share their process of fictionalizing their own adoption journey, balancing collaboration as married filmmakers, and navigating international co-productions. They also dive into the mechanics of shooting stunts, working with passionate collaborators, and sustaining a creative life while parenting. In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins and guests David Joseph Craig and Brian Crano discuss... How personal experiences shaped the emotionally charged and comedic tone of I Don’t Understand You Transitioning from individual careers in acting and theater to collaborative filmmaking Tips for making international co-productions smoother, especially in Italy The logistics and artistry of filming stunts that are both shocking and funny Balancing parenting and directing, and how being a parent reshapes storytelling instincts Hiring passionate collaborators to elevate areas where you may feel less confident Why directors should consider editing or DP paths for a more sustainable career Memorable Quotes: "My films are like my ex-wives — I'm glad they exist and I never want to see them again." "We just decided early that on set, we would shoot everything and figure it out after." "Directing is like being eaten by crows — no one wants all of you, but everyone wants three bites." "Hire the people who are most passionate about the job you're most insecure about." Guests: David Joseph Craig on IMDb David’s Instagram Brian Crano on IMDb Brian’s Instagram Resources: I Don’t Understand You — In theaters June 6 - Get Ticket Now I Don’t Understand You Trailer I Don’t Understand You on Instagram Articles on stunts and filmmaking at No Film School Find No Film School everywhere: On the Web: No Film School Facebook: No Film School on Facebook Twitter: No Film School on Twitter YouTube: No Film School on YouTube Instagram: No Film School on Instagram  📩 Send us an email with questions or feedback: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, GG Hawkins welcomes back filmmaker Janek Ambros to dive deep into the wild origin and evolution of his second feature film, Mondo Hollywoodland. The conversation spans everything from a life-changing phone call with Francis Ford Coppola to the chaotic, experimental production process of an iPhone-shot psychedelic satire. Ambros shares how a rogue spirit, a skeleton crew, and the mantra "just make something" powered his creative journey. He also discusses the challenges of distribution, finding a cult audience, and why the edit room is his happy place. In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins and guest Janek Ambros discuss... How Francis Ford Coppola inspired the DIY ethos behind Mondo Hollywoodland Why the film is more of a spiritual successor than a direct sequel to the 1967 cult doc Mondo Hollywood The experimental, no-crew production process using an iPhone and real locations Casting friends and local oddballs to match the film’s bizarre, countercultural tone How the film’s editing and narrator shape its chaotic narrative Navigating COVID-era distribution and marketing challenges Ambros’s dual approach to career-building: make art, but also think commercially Why learning to produce is essential for emerging filmmakers Memorable Quotes: "You should just make a movie with your iPhone with your friends if you don’t have money." "We didn’t have a cinematographer. We have a camera op. That’s really it." "It was just totally the freest form of filmmaking." "Editing is definitely my favorite part of filmmaking. Everything else is a necessary evil just to edit." Guests: Janek Ambros Resources: More from NFS x Janek Screening Tickets – June 8, 6 p.m. at Lumineer Music Hall, Beverly Hills Mondo Hollywoodland on Letterboxd Assembly Line Entertainment on Instagram: @assemblylineent,  Mondo Hollywoodland on Instagram: @mondohollywoodland Janek on Twitter: @janekambros88 Assembly Line Entertainment on Twitter: @assemblylineent Find No Film School everywhere: On the Web: No Film School Facebook: No Film School on Facebook Twitter: No Film School on Twitter YouTube: No Film School on YouTube Instagram: No Film School on Instagram  📩 Send us an email with questions or feedback: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode of the No Film School Podcast is a deep dive into the often opaque world of film finance, distribution, and foreign pre-sales. GG Hawkins hosts the episode and is joined by filmmakers Stephen Cedars and Benji Kleiman, as well as special guest Mike Chapman from Bluefinch Films. Together, they explore what it takes to get a film made and sold in today’s unpredictable global market. From debunking myths about foreign pre-sales to discussing how to attract investors and get your film noticed at festivals, this is an essential listen for indie filmmakers navigating the post-production and sales process. In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins and guests discuss... The harsh realities of the current acquisitions and distribution market Why understanding distribution from the beginning helps you fund your movie The value (and limitations) of foreign pre-sales and cast attachments What sales agents look for in a pitch, and how to present a compelling deck Why comps in pitch decks can be misleading or counterproductive Navigating film festivals and markets like Cannes, Berlin, and Toronto effectively Practical tips for raising money without burning out or making costly mistakes Memorable Quotes: “Nobody knows anything in the film industry.” “Every birth is a miracle. Editors are midwives. We could really keep this metaphor going.” “You’ve got to be bold. If it just feels like a lower-budget version of something the studio’s making, they’ll just watch the studio version.” “If it is a good film, it will find a way to cut through.” Guests: Mike Chapman (Bluefinch Films) Stephen Cedars Benji Kleiman Resources: Blue Finch Film Releasing The Wolfpack Deadstream Hundreds of Beavers Find No Film School everywhere: On the Web: No Film School Facebook: No Film School on Facebook Twitter: No Film School on Twitter YouTube: No Film School on YouTube Instagram: No Film School on Instagram 📩 Send us an email with questions or feedback: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the No Film School Podcast, GG Hawkins is reporting live from the 2025 Cannes Film Festival alongside a vibrant panel of first-time attendees. Filmmakers Stephen Cedars and Benji Kleiman, and producer Lexi Tannenholtz reflect on the chaos, surprises, and serendipity of navigating Cannes for the first time. From deciphering the market to running into unexpected industry contacts, they explore the overwhelming yet exhilarating world of one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world. This episode is packed with practical advice for emerging filmmakers hoping to make the most of a trip to Cannes. In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins and guests discuss... What it means to “have a movie” at Cannes and the nuances between screening, sales, and market presence How the Cannes Film Festival is actually multiple events in one—red carpets, markets, pavilions, and more The unique experience of The Marché du Film and what it teaches about global film distribution Serendipitous encounters and the power of just showing up prepared and open to connection The social dynamics of the festival and why dressing the part can be as important as showing up Tips for navigating Cannes for first-timers—from parties to planning to staying present The balance between networking and being respectful in professional interactions Memorable Quotes: "I feel like I've learned more in the last six days than I have in the last six years." "Prepare yourself for good luck.” "Don’t try to get an apple tree on day one of planting the seed." "The festival is a celebration of art, but the market is all business." Guests: Stephen Cedars Benji Kleiman Lexi Tannenholtz Resources: Goodside: Affordable housing for filmmakers at major festivals Find No Film School everywhere: On the Web: No Film School Facebook: No Film School on Facebook Twitter: No Film School on Twitter YouTube: No Film School on YouTube Instagram: No Film School on Instagram 📩 Send us an email with questions or feedback: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices