FIVE-HUNDREDish Filmmaking Tips & Tricks w/Matt & Oren - Just Shoot It 500

FIVE-HUNDREDish Filmmaking Tips & Tricks w/Matt & Oren - Just Shoot It 500

Author: Filmmakers Matt Enlow & Oren Kaplan November 6, 2025 Duration: 1:19:42

Matt and Oren celebrate 500 episodes! That's basically one episode per week without dropping a beat, not even on Thanksgivings, since 2015.


And while it's true "Just Shoot It" has changed a lot over the years. So too has the film & TV industry. It all started with a focus on auteur filmmaking. But the podcast took a definite shift towards commercial directing over the years.


And while both Matt and Oren have successful careers and get paid to actually do what they love doing, neither broke out in a way that made them lose touch with what it really means to make it in the film and TV industry. Through the ups and the downs, both for the industry as a whole and for their individual careers, they've ridden the same rollercoaster as you.


Matt talks about some dark times and how he made it through. And Oren and Matt both exchange techniques and ways of thinking that they picked up over the years to help them succeed faster. In the end, they wrote their own rules instead of waiting to "suddenly be discovered". 


Sure, luck was involved, but in a lot of ways, they learned to help luck take root. 


It's a real up-close look at where Matt and Oren are today in their careers, a look back at how they got there, and some introspection about what they might have done different.


You can't miss this episode if you're looking to find tips and tricks to make it in film or TV in 2025 and beyond.



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


Matt's Endorsement: Molegirl aka "Tunnel Girl" on TikTok

https://www.fastcompany.com/91299852/tiktoks-tunnel-girl-is-digging-again-much-to-the-internets-delight

https://www.tiktok.com/@engineer.everything?lang=en


Oren's Endorsement: Adobe's Firefly Boards https://www.adobe.com/products/firefly/features/moodboard.html


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…