The MAKE IT Podcast - Details, episodes & analysis

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The MAKE IT Podcast

Chris Barkley & Nick Buggs

Tv & Film

News

Frequency: 1 episode/6d. Total Eps: 545

We are lifelong friends, movie lovers, and producers of three feature films. We are on a mission to share insights and emcee unfiltered conversations with pros across the film world.

New episodes every two Fridays. Watch on YouTube, listen on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Stay Inspired,

Chris + Nick

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-make-it-podcast--7516419/support.

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Score global : 53%

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449 - Why Streamers Won’t Look at Your $100K Movie, New Federal Film Tax Credit Explained: How Indie Films Get 30% Back, and Does SAG-AFTRA’

Friday, October 30, 2026 • Duration 01:31:11

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/makeit
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. the fellas are back to chop it up about a wide variety of topics! We explore how a proposed federal film incentive could affect independent production budgets and U.S. filmmaking. We debate AI contract provisions, the shrinking of acting opportunities, and the creative impact of studio consolidation. We also discuss mental health, television storytelling, and what to watch for Halloween. Enjoy!
We also talk about:

Why introverts may find meaningful conversations energizing, even after a busy week.
Nick's critique of Vision Quest and its rapid, comic-book-style storytelling.
Why the new A Different World feels different from the original to Nick, and why he still welcomes the cast’s opportunity.
The importance of asking friends directly whether they are okay, especially during a period of social and technological change.
Halloween picks ranging from Whalefall and The Sixth Sense to Gremlins, plus the our thoughts on horror built through story rather than gore.

People, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned:PeopleAdam Schiff Mark Maxey Chris Greene Nichole Marie Lim Sean Astin RJ Mitte Sacha Baron Cohen / Ali G Sydney Sweeney Aaron Sorkin Kadeem Hardison Dominic Hoffman Tom Cruise Arnold Schwarzenegger Eddie Murphy
Organizations & CompaniesAnthropic SAG-AFTRA WGA The New York Times IFC Skydance GEICO Progressive Liberty Mutual
Films & TelevisionE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial The Hunger Games Pulp Fiction Digger John Carter Howard the Duck Norbit The Only Living Pickpocket in New York Tilly Norwood WandaVision Vision Quest A Different World / Hillman College Whalefall The Sixth Sense Sin City Gremlins The Amityville Horror Friday the 13th A Nightmare on Elm Street Hellraiser Halloween The Terminator Predator Alien Requiem for a Dream Bad Boys: Ride or Die mother!
Products & PlatformsClaude Pro Riverside Storyblocks
PlacesGeorgia Kentucky Louisiana New Mexico New Hampshire New Jersey
Legislation & IndustryH.R. 10582 — Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act Film production incentives in the US SAG-AFTRA contracts WGA contracts Paramount Skydance / Warner Bros.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-make-it-podcast--7516419/support.

We’re humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work, and your support makes it all possible. If you want to go deeper, join the MAKE IT Academy. Members get 200+ courses on screenwriting, acting, producing, directing, and film financing, plus members-only perks, discounts, and a bi-weekly newsletter with exclusive grants and film programs.

Memberships start at $9.99/month, and you can gift one to a fellow filmmaker.
Join here: https://themakeitpodcast.com/pages/academy

Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT

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SUMMARIES - Lee Abrams - Why Fans Reject Safe Media And Human Taste Beats the Algorithm

Tuesday, October 27, 2026 • Duration 25:03

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/newsletter
Hello, 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 Abrams Buzz Bennett Henry Ford Chris Squire Jon Anderson Bill WaxProjects & Organizations Concepts & Technology / Places & Cultural ReferencesAdvertising Inquiries: Become a supporter of this podcast: .We’re humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work, and your support makes it all possible. If you want to go deeper, join the MAKE IT Academy. Members get 200+ courses on screenwriting, acting, producing, directing, and film financing, plus members-only perks, discounts, and a bi-weekly newsletter with exclusive grants and film programs. Memberships start at $9.99/month, and you can gift one to a fellow filmmaker.Join here: Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT

448 - 25 Years After 9/11: The Doc Narrated by Gary Sinise | Michael Gier on Losing Everything and Starting Over at 40

Friday, October 16, 2026 • Duration 01:49:22

This episode is brought to you by http://storyblocks.com/makeit! 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 http://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 https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0317364/?ref_=fn_t_2 explains how he made his documentary https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21876766/?ref_=nm_knf_t_2. 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 & Family GierPeople — 9/11 Strauss (NYPD ESU)Sgt. John McLoughlin_93 & Jack Grandcolas_Crowther Hlava KochPeople — Performers & Filmmakers_Jonze _Sinise People — Other Public FiguresGroups & Characters_Glick Projects-heroes TV & FilmBecome a supporter of this podcast: .We’re humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work, and your support makes it all possible. If you want to go deeper, join the MAKE IT Academy. Members get 200+ courses on screenwriting, acting, producing, directing, and film financing, plus members-only perks, discounts, and a bi-weekly newsletter with exclusive grants and film programs. Memberships start at $9.99/month, and you can gift one to a fellow filmmaker.Join here: Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT

SUMMARIES - Julius Ritter - The Permissionless Revolution & When Zero Dollars Isn’t Zero Vision

Tuesday, October 13, 2026 • Duration 15:16

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/newsletter
Hello, 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 Jingles Rob Reiner Quentin Tarantino William ShakespeareActing Credits (Gap Kids) His Own Films Mr. MiseryAmericana, White Sheets Organizations & PlatformsReferences & Places Advertising Inquiries: Become a supporter of this podcast: .We’re humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work, and your support makes it all possible. If you want to go deeper, join the MAKE IT Academy. Members get 200+ courses on screenwriting, acting, producing, directing, and film financing, plus members-only perks, discounts, and a bi-weekly newsletter with exclusive grants and film programs. Memberships start at $9.99/month, and you can gift one to a fellow filmmaker.Join here: Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT

Bonus Episode: 48 Hour Film Project Winner Allison Alonzo on How to Make a Film in 48 Hours

Friday, October 9, 2026 • Duration 42:08

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 Ark E.T. the Extra-TerrestrialFood & Brands PeopleJordan ChateauConnor BaconSeth ShepardJones KolbinskiJake GilbertSchoolsFilm Events & OrganizationsPoint of VU Film Festival (POVU) — Vanderbilt’s student festivalPlaces & VenuesWe 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. #MAKEITAdvertising Inquiries: Become a supporter of this podcast: .We’re humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work, and your support makes it all possible. If you want to go deeper, join the MAKE IT Academy. Members get 200+ courses on screenwriting, acting, producing, directing, and film financing, plus members-only perks, discounts, and a bi-weekly newsletter with exclusive grants and film programs. Memberships start at $9.99/month, and you can gift one to a fellow filmmaker.Join here: Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT

447 - What Money Can’t Fix on a Film Set, Why People Need People, and Creative Sets, AI, and Staying Weird - Nichole Marie Lim

Friday, October 2, 2026 • Duration 01:54:55

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 August Craig Mazin Jim Henson J.K. Simmons Brad PittBrands & ProductsHer ProjectsCheckmate, The Way Back Down, Mom Cult, American Quilt ContestFilms (2025)The Migrant Places & InstitutionsMAKE IT (e-book)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. #MAKEITAdvertising Inquiries: Become a supporter of this podcast: .We’re humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work, and your support makes it all possible. If you want to go deeper, join the MAKE IT Academy. Members get 200+ courses on screenwriting, acting, producing, directing, and film financing, plus members-only perks, discounts, and a bi-weekly newsletter with exclusive grants and film programs. Memberships start at $9.99/month, and you can gift one to a fellow filmmaker.Join here: Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT

SUMMARIES - Keith McDaniel - How he made "The Clinton 12," Cast James Earl Jones, and Why Local Beats Bigger

Tuesday, September 29, 2026 • Duration 21:02

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/support
Hello, 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 Burns
Films & ProjectsThe Clinton 12 The Belmont Reasons Companies & OrganizationsSecret City Films PlacesHistory & ConceptsAdvertising Inquiries: Become a supporter of this podcast: .We’re humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work, and your support makes it all possible. If you want to go deeper, join the MAKE IT Academy. Members get 200+ courses on screenwriting, acting, producing, directing, and film financing, plus members-only perks, discounts, and a bi-weekly newsletter with exclusive grants and film programs. Memberships start at $9.99/month, and you can gift one to a fellow filmmaker.Join here: Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT

446 - Isabel Hagen on Making 'On a String', Winning Tribeca, Cancel Culture, and Surviving Stand‑Up

Friday, September 18, 2026 • Duration 01:34:05

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.com
Hello, 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 Films & TV Companies & OrganizationsMusicFood & Places MAKE IT (e-book)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. #MAKEITAdvertising Inquiries: Become a supporter of this podcast: .We’re humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work, and your support makes it all possible. If you want to go deeper, join the MAKE IT Academy. Members get 200+ courses on screenwriting, acting, producing, directing, and film financing, plus members-only perks, discounts, and a bi-weekly newsletter with exclusive grants and film programs. Memberships start at $9.99/month, and you can gift one to a fellow filmmaker.Join here: Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT

Film Brief - Who Is Stan Smith? - The Man Behind the Three Stripes

Wednesday, September 16, 2026 • Duration 11:59

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 Lee Rebecca Halpern
PeopleStan Smith Arthur Ashe John McEnroe Products & BrandsInstitutions & EventsWe 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: Advertising Inquiries: Become a supporter of this podcast: .We’re humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work, and your support makes it all possible. If you want to go deeper, join the MAKE IT Academy. Members get 200+ courses on screenwriting, acting, producing, directing, and film financing, plus members-only perks, discounts, and a bi-weekly newsletter with exclusive grants and film programs. Memberships start at $9.99/month, and you can gift one to a fellow filmmaker.Join here: Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT

SUMMARIES - Alexis Gambis - CRISPR, Cinema, and Identity—The Human Story of Science

Tuesday, September 15, 2026 • Duration 20:27

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/support
Hello, Hello!In this episode, AI Hosts Alex Ivey and Allison Inverness dive deep into the world of filmmaker and Scientist, Alexis Gambis. He explains how a background in molecular biology can serve as a foundation for filmmaking rather than be an abandoned career. The conversation explores the Science New Wave, a movement that combines rigorous science with emotional storytelling, culture, and personal identity. It also examines CRISPR, de-extinction, creative practice, and the infrastructure needed to bring hybrid science films to audiences.
We also talk about:

The patience and observation skills Gambis developed while studying fruit flies.
His father’s shift from engineering to painting and the role of family history in his films.
The resistance Gambis encountered from both biology and film communities.
Spike Lee’s mentorship and the fruit-fly drawing displayed beside a photo of Patrick Ewing.
The Symbiosis initiative’s one-week collaborations between scientists and filmmakers.

People, Places, Products, and References Mentioned:Alexis Gambis Spike Lee James Franco Jessica Chastain Tenoch Huerta Films & Projects (2014) (2020/21)The Next Jaguar Disposable Institutions & PlatformsScience New Wave — Science & ConceptsAdvertising Inquiries: Become a supporter of this podcast: .We’re humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work, and your support makes it all possible. If you want to go deeper, join the MAKE IT Academy. Members get 200+ courses on screenwriting, acting, producing, directing, and film financing, plus members-only perks, discounts, and a bi-weekly newsletter with exclusive grants and film programs. Memberships start at $9.99/month, and you can gift one to a fellow filmmaker.Join here: Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT