2025 Year-End Director Panel - Just Shoot It 508

2025 Year-End Director Panel - Just Shoot It 508

Author: Filmmakers Matt Enlow & Oren Kaplan January 1, 2026 Duration: 1:49:20

The 2025 year-end Director's Panel is here! Each year, Matt and Oren have a little cocktail party with some of the past year's guests. It's a chance to reconnect and chat about what went well, what didn't, and what they're hopeful for in the coming year.


Carlyn Hudson, Jamaal Parham, and Mercedes Bryce Morgan participate in this first-ever, on-camera, live-to-tape panel. And if you've got questions about the impact of AI on Hollywood and the impact of how movies are getting funded on A-list talent, then this is an episode you won't want to miss!


Bringing together directors who have attended TIFF, worked with Jake Gyllenhaal, have films on Hulu, travel the globe, and know how to utilize the JOBS Act to fund films yields a diverse range of topics. And this crew talks about the need to do more with less, finding time to be creative, and further pushing the boundary of what's possible in an 8-hour shoot day. And yeah, AI is a big subject on everyone's minds. But is it really a threat? Or are we all whale hunters nearing extinction?


There's a lot of hope and ideas in this episode. Happy New Year, everyone!


Find Mercedes on IG @mercedesbrycemorgan or https://www.mercedesmorganfilm.com/


Find Carlyn on IG @carlynhudson


Find Jamaal on IG @jamaalparham and @jamsandbash


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Help our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPod


Matt's Endorsement: Fire extinguishers. AND, the fire department. 


Oren's Endorsement: Download everything from your phone related to your work projects, weekly () or on some fixed schedule) so you can find it later. Also, James Cameron's interview on "The Town" podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/part-1-james-cameron-on-avatar-misconceptions-ais-skynet/id1612131897?i=1000738091636


Mercedes's Endorsement: Photoshop's Remove Tool (currently in Photoshop Beta version)

Kind of like Harmonize.ai (which adds shadows and reflections when you add objects to photos)


Carlyn's Endorsement; Send words of affirmation to people you appreciate.


Jamaal's Endorsement: Akari Sauna with 2 locations in Brooklyn, NY, Greenpoint and Williamsburg https://www.akarisauna.com/. And use saunas as your time to develop creative ideas. Also the book "The Genius of the System: Hollywood Filmmaking in the Studio Era" by Thomas Schatz https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780805046663/thegeniusofthesystem/


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Behind every film you've ever loved is a collection of hard-won lessons, creative struggles, and moments of pure luck. Just Shoot It: A Podcast about Filmmaking, Screenwriting and Directing pulls back the curtain on that process. Hosted by working directors Matt Enlow and Oren Kaplan, this podcast operates like a long-form conversation between peers, delving into the granular details of building a life behind the camera. Each episode features an interview with a filmmaker, but the focus is less on promoting projects and more on dissecting the craft. You'll hear directors, writers, cinematographers, and other artists break down their approach to story development, the visual language of a scene, working with actors, and the practical realities of navigating a career. The discussion is grounded in the hosts' own experiences, making the advice tangible and the pitfalls relatable. This isn't abstract theory; it's a field guide compiled from the trenches. Whether you're an aspiring director, a seasoned screenwriter, or simply fascinated by how movies are truly made, this podcast offers an honest, unvarnished look at the art, business, and relentless problem-solving that defines filmmaking. Tune in for a masterclass that feels like a coffee shop chat, where the goal is to demystify the journey from script to screen.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Just Shoot It: A Podcast about Filmmaking, Screenwriting and Directing
Podcast Episodes
Production Pivots w/ Carlyn Hudson - Just Shoot It 472 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:20
Carlyn Hudson returns! Matt and Oren dive into the art of game-time decisions on set—when to stick to the plan and when a last-minute change is worth the risk. It's a great discussion about leadership, with hands-on, rea…
Back to Basics, AI, & Travel Tips w/ Matt & Oren - Just Shoot It 471 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:33
Matt and Oren are back to basics and pushing creative boundaries. Whether it's tackling passion projects, experimenting with constraints like shooting anamorphic on the vertical, or using AI to spark human creativity, th…
SNL or Die w/ Oz Rodriguez - Just Shoot It 470 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:57
Can a well-timed email get you on SNL as a director? Oz Rodriguez made it happen. But TV was a whole different game back then! The formula, though, remains the same: great comedy actors make comedy directors look great.O…
Deep Thoughts w/ Matt & Oren - Just Shoot It 469 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:40
Matt and Oren take a hard look at the current state of the film and TV industry in the wake of the LA fires, pandemic, strikes, AI, and streaming. It’s some real talk about the challenges facing production, including tax…
Honest Feedback w/ Pete Chatmon - Just Shoot It 467 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:22
Pete Chatmon is one of those select few directors who is constantly working as a director on TV episodes from Ghosts, to Yellowjackets, Chicago Fire, and lots more. He's the host of the podcast Let's Shoot.Matt and Oren…
F*** My Shoot w/Laura Murphy (Part 2) - Just Shoot It 466 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:08
AWESOME EVENT! Help victims of the California wildfires (*) by attending a screening of a new episode of "Yellowjackets" with a discussion with Director Pete Chatmon at Let's Shoot at Dynasty Typewriter, Wed. Mar 19, 7:3…
F*** Marry Kill w/Laura Murphy (Part 1) -  Just Shoot It 465 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:12
Laura Murphy chats with Matt and Oren about directing her new film "F*** Marry Kill" https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22528200 And they talk about the process to become a director on a film like this, is there a list you nee…
Conquering Production Hurdles w/ Matt & Oren  - Just Shoot It 464 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:51
Oren's on another commercial shoot and Matt's just started another new show! Everything's great, or is it? Matt and Oren chat about why the vision you pitch can be really, really hard in reality. Especially as budget, st…