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


---

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/


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


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
Freaking Out w/ Oren & Matt - Just Shoot It 453 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:42
Being flown around the world as a commercial director, or working daily with celebrity artists sounds amazing. But how about over Thanksgiving and the holidays? Is there a way to work big directing jobs and still have th…
Twisting Genres in "Samson" w/Ruth Du - Just Shoot It 452 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:17
What's the secret to getting accepted into director development programs? Are you making these common mistakes when pitching by email? How can you standout and launch your movie directing career?Matt and Oren chat with R…
Storyboarding & Previz w/Matt & Oren - Just Shoot It 451 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:56
Are previz and storyboarding really worth the time and effort? What's the best way to work with a storyboard artist? And, what if you don't have access to a storyboard artist? Oren & Matt chat about how previz and storyb…
Turning Passion into Profit w/Jordan Brady - Just Shoot It 450 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:46
Jordan Brady, live from the Lee Strasbourg Institute! In this special IRL version of Just Shoot It! Oren and Matt chat with commercial director and host of the podcast "Respect the Process", Jordan Brady, about building…
Persuasive Communication w/Matt & Oren - Just Shoot It 449 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:24
Communicating. Directors do this all the time. It's how you get a client excited about choosing you for their high profile commercial. Or get producers comfortable with having you direct your favorite TV show. You do it…
Directing Katie's Mom w/Tyrrell and Meryl - Just Shoot It 448 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:13
Navigating sex and intimacy scenes along with the wild ride of crashing Sundance. Meryl Branch McTiernan and Director Tyrrell Shaffner join Matt & Oren in a chat about securing investors for their indie film, "Katie's Mo…
Handling Rejection w/Carlyn Hudson - Just Shoot It 447 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:36
This week Matt & Oren chat with Director & long time friend of the show Carlyn Hudson about how to deal with rejection as a director.Carlyn's Endorsement: AlMatt's Endorsement: Rotating one monitor 90 degrees.Oren's Endo…
Operating Your Way Into TV w/Ben Semanoff - Just Shoot It 446 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:11
This week Matt & Oren chat with Director Ben Semanoff about his journey from camera operator to director, and everything in-between. Ben's Endorsement: https://www.storyboardsmarter.com/Matt's Endorsement: USB Docks Oren…
How to Succeed in Film w/Editor Andy Young - Just Shoot It 445 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:36
This week Matt & Oren chat with Editor and friend of the Show Andy Young about networking, working for free, and more!Andy's Endorsement: http://www.lafcpug.org/Matt's Endorsement:Scare Tactics (Peacock | Monkey Paw Prod…
Personalizing your Pitch w/Matt & Oren - Just Shoot It 444 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:04
This week Matt & Oren chat about how they add personalization to pitches to win the bid. Matt's Endorsement: Rebel Ridge (Netflix), On Fire Podcast.Oren's Endorsement: Nobody Wants This (Netflix), Downloading kids shows…