The No Film School Podcast No Film School

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


Find No Film School everywhere:

On the Web
https://nofilmschool.com/

Facebook 
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool

Twitter 
https://twitter.com/nofilmschool

YouTube 
https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool

Send us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com!
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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]



Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
https://nofilmschool.com/

Facebook 
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool

Twitter 
https://twitter.com/nofilmschool

YouTube 
https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool

Send us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com!
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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


Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
https://nofilmschool.com/

Facebook 
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool

Twitter 
https://twitter.com/nofilmschool

YouTube 
https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool

Send us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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


Find No Film School everywhere:

On the Web
https://nofilmschool.com/

Facebook 
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool

Twitter 
https://twitter.com/nofilmschool

YouTube 
https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool

Send us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you build a career as a cinematographer when the odds are against you? How do you create opportunities for yourself, when dealing with rejection, financial barriers, and prejudice? Is it possible to pursue your dream without conforming and becoming someone you are not? 

In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins speaks with cinematographers Bruce Cole and Alejandro Mejía to discuss: 

Being drawn to visual art from a young age

The people who encouraged and inspired their creative dreams

Feeling motivated by rejection 

Why New York is a great place to start a film career

The importance of having mentors in your career journey

Stigmas they experience in the industry as minorities

Why we need to stop glamorizing film careers

How to maintain balance during long, tedious projects

Cultivating yourself and embracing who you are

Having another creative form of expression outside of film



Memorable Quotes

“I want to do this. I want to travel the world and know the world with a camera.” [14:25]

“New York is probably the best starter city for young filmmakers from all walks of life.” [40:09]

“This is not a speed race. This is a marathon. We are long-distance runners.” [71:28]

“We’re losing that artistry because we are so focused on being someone else.” [79:10]



Mentioned:
From Landing the Job to Boosting Morale: Sundance DP Roundtable Dives into Filters & More
More about Bruce

More about Alejandro


Find No Film School everywhere:

On the Web
https://nofilmschool.com/

Facebook 
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool

Twitter 
https://twitter.com/nofilmschool

YouTube 
https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool

Send us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The small decisions that you make at the beginning of your project, can cause headaches later on. If you want to avoid tech issues in post, then you need to set up your project correctly from the start. Speaking of doing things right from the start, there is a right way and a wrong way to approach your interviews. How should you prepare for your next interview to make sure it doesn’t bomb?

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

Bombing interviews in Hollywood

What not to do during an interview

Going to interviews as a slightly fancier version of yourself 

How to respond when someone doesn’t read your script

Feeling guilty for not reading other people’s scripts

Career errors we have learned from

The helpless feeling you get when troubleshooting tech problems 

Media management issues in post-production

Sorting through the timeline and looking for weird shots

Why it’s worth bringing on subject matter experts early


Memorable Quotes

“Over-researching is never a mistake when you are given an opportunity.” [2:09]

“Everyone I know has made huge, catastrophic career mistakes and we’ve all kept going.” [9:00]

“Setting up things right from the start makes your life so much easier.” [30:29]

“God bless people in post-production. The most patient humans in the world.” [35:48]



Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
https://nofilmschool.com/

Facebook 
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool

Twitter 
https://twitter.com/nofilmschool

YouTube 
https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool

Send us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com!
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