Is AI a Tool? w/Sarah May Bates and Susan Song  - Just Shoot It 516

Is AI a Tool? w/Sarah May Bates and Susan Song - Just Shoot It 516

Author: Filmmakers Matt Enlow & Oren Kaplan February 26, 2026 Duration: 1:21:09

Sarah May Bates https://www.sarahmaybates.com/ is an AI director, and she’s been getting lots of work! And Matt and Oren dive deep into how she makes that happen. She’s joined by actor Susan Song.


Sarah has a clear line for AI usage. And it comes down to what are you in this for? Do you love the organic aspect of filmmaking and discovery, where what you plan isn’t always what you get? Like, in a good way.


Because if you’re not, you might prefer the robotic precision of AI.


But be careful of being tricked into believing that’s what brands want, especially the top brands you want to work for.


At the end of the day, Sarah believes human oversight is at the core of what creatives do. Like, why would you want to have AI write your script, or even your email? That’s what you do, and that’s what makes you who you are!


Here’s the golden rule: if the medium is leading, then you are failing.


What does that mean? Don’t fall into the trap of creating AI for the sake of filling the request. Instead, Sarah recommends letting the creative work find what it wants to be!


This is the episode you want to hear as an actor, filmmaker, or anyone in the industry looking for some sense of purpose, foundation, and compass for what’s happening in AI!

Connect with Sarah at https://www.yaywithme.com


Connect with Susan on IG @sujjang012


---

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

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


Matt's Endorsement: Send Help https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8036976/

Nick Lutsko's song for the Manscaped Super Bowl Commercial https://www.local3news.com/local-news/update-chattanooga-artist-nick-lutsko-composes-song-for-national-super-bowl-commercial/article_dd5d9cd0-9c5a-4565-a1af-1dfe3d1ffdda.html


Sarah's Endorsement: The UPA Cartoon "Rooty Toot Toot" https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/the-70th-anniversary-of-rooty-toot-toot/ 


The documentary on the animation company UPA https://www.cartoonbrew.com/documentary-2/animation-mavericks-the-forgotten-story-of-upa-documentary-258284.html 


The book "Bird by Bird", by Anne Lamott https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/97395/bird-by-bird-by-anne-lamott/


Susan's Endorsement: See the Backstreet Boys at the Sphere, in Las Vegas


Oren's Endorsement: @stuffaboutadvertising on Instagram



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
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…