Becoming a Breadwinner w/Director Eric Appel- Just Shoot It 536

Becoming a Breadwinner w/Director Eric Appel- Just Shoot It 536

Author: Filmmakers Matt Enlow & Oren Kaplan July 16, 2026 Duration: 1:31:56

Eric Appel talks about the benefits of improv experience and how it shaped his career, from his latest film “The Breadwinner”, which stars Nate Bargatze, Mandy Moore, and Colin Jost, to working with Weird Al and Aron Paul. 

And Matt and Oren chat with Eric about not being married to your own ideas and various methods to “yes and” with style. And they talk about the balance between being fully committed to the best creative, without coming off as uncommitted to your own ideas.

And avoiding the appearance that because you aren't married to all ideas, you aren't committed to getting the best work.

You won’t want to miss this episode if you’re dying to hear from a film and TV commercial director who knows how to win bread at both!


Help Matts' film: https://wefunder.com/badfeeling

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


Matt's Endorsement: Caligriphr app to draw your own fonts https://www.calligraphr.com/

Oren's Endorsement: @adamjayrotstein on IG.

Eric's Endorsement: Ween's 30th Anniversary special release of "12 Golden and Country Greats" 3-album series.


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: 50

Just Shoot It: A Podcast about Filmmaking, Screenwriting and Directing
Podcast Episodes
AI Filmmaking w/Sergio Cilli & Kristyna Archer - Just Shoot It 511 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:14
When Sergio Cilli https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1826186/ made his first AI film, it really didn’t get noticed. And neither did many others he made. Sure they were good. But what got noticed more was the one video he made,…
Postmortems and Fresh Starts w/Matt & Oren - Just Shoot It 509 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:19
Matt and Oren are pulling together their year-end recap posts for social media. And they realize, “wow, there's a lot to reflect upon!”LA is definitely enjoying a resurgence, of sorts. And while more productions are shoo…
2025 Year-End Director Panel - Just Shoot It 508 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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'…
How Commercial Director NEDA Gets Unique Shots - Just Shoot It 505 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:39
Commercial director NEDA joins Matt and Oren in their first-ever interview from Eastern Europe! NEDA talks about how she gets unique shots, even when working with kids. She shares how she balances freestyle with agency n…