How to Pitch with Style w/Maya Margolina - Just Shoot It 497

How to Pitch with Style w/Maya Margolina - Just Shoot It 497

Author: Filmmakers Matt Enlow & Oren Kaplan October 16, 2025 Duration: 1:28:15

Maya ‘Mayachka’ Margolina https://mayachka.com/ talks about her work with luxury brands like Coach, Rihanna's Fenty, Mercedes Benz, and MCM and how she craft treatments that get her work. And she reveals her own struggle to avoid being derivative while acknowledging that everything is derivative, at least somehow. 


In this episode, Oren and Matt unpack how Maya's unique cinematic form gets audiences to perceive brands in ways they never imagined. You might call it bridging the gap between a brand and a part of you brain that's from a completely different galaxy.  


And though her unique perspective is mind-bending, much of her method is grounded in the same framework Matt and Oren have used in their comedy-focused work. You'll see similar beats with a familiar thought process and the same discovery call, but coming together in a completely different art form. And Maya discusses the details of working with movement directors and music supervisors as well as her interpretation of camera motion, pop culture memes, and getting the best performance from models and celebrities. 


Honest question. Are you someone who would never call something "hot"? Then this is the down to earth story of how to direct commercials for luxury brands that you've been wanting to hear! 


IG @mayachka____ 

(that's 4 underscores)


---

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


Matt's Endorsement: Hayao Miyazaki's. "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind" https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087544/


Oren's Endorsement: the Roku remote has a headphone jack. And, r/barista on Reddit is hilarious https://www.reddit.com/r/barista/?rdt=37757 


Maya's Endorsement: Flora AI https://www.florafauna.ai/ node-based AI with a UI reminiscent of Davinci Resolve color grading.

"Copycat" with Sigourney Weaver https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112722 

Low Cinema in Queens NYC https://lowcinema.com/


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
Commitment Issues  w/ Matt & Oren  - Just Shoot It 443 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:03
This week Matt & Oren chat about work-life balance, adapting to different workflows, and working with new companies. Matt's Endorsement: Going on a hike. Specifically Millard Canyon. Oren's Endorsements: Listening to Mus…
Mastering Docu-Style Drama w/Robert Kolodny - Just Shoot It 442 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:40
This week Matt & Oren chat with Venice, Directing, and Boxing with "Featherweight" Director Robert KolodnyRobert's Endorsement: https://www.youtube.com/@Mosfilm_engMatt's Endorsement: I Saw the TV Glow (Max)Oren's Endors…
Building a Horror Career w/The Butcher Brothers -Just Shoot It 438 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:28:24
This week Matt & Oren chat with Director Mitchel Alteiri and Producer Phil Flores, otherwise known as The Butcher Brothers, about their new horror feature: CONSUMED!Matt's Endorsement: Smart SheetsOren's Endorsement: Awa…
How to Share Your Work w/Matt & Oren - Just Shoot It 437 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:21
It's another catchin' up episode! This week Matt & Oren chat about house-keeping, keeping your portfolios tidy, and more! Matt's Endorsement: Alien: Romulus & Ridley Scott Letterboxd Top 4Oren's Endorsement: All The Hack…
Talking to Actors w/Matt & Oren - Just Shoot It 436 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:47
This week, Matt & Oren do a little catching up and chat about talking to actors!Matt's Endorsement: NoBudge, One Sandwich To Rule Them AllOren's Endorsement: Dropbox Tip, Filmot, Untoldstudios.tvContribute to the Just Sh…
2 Wins & 2 Losses w/Matt & Oren - Just Shoot It 435 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:32
This week, Matt & Oren dive into some wins and losses when it comes to landing commercial directing jobs.Matt's Endorsement: Fruits!Oren's Endorsement: Beer GuidelinesContribute to the Just Shoot It Patreon and help the…
Dominating A Smaller Market w/Morgan & Nick - Just Shoot It 434 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:59
This week, Matt & Oren chat with the directing duo Morgan & Nick about their commercial directing careers, how to dominate your smaller local market, and pre-vising with Unreal Engine!Matt's Endorsement: Alex Hormozi's P…