Listener Strikes Gold w/‘The Travel Companion’ from Travis Wood & Alex Mallis - Just Shoot It 520

Listener Strikes Gold w/‘The Travel Companion’ from Travis Wood & Alex Mallis - Just Shoot It 520

Author: Filmmakers Matt Enlow & Oren Kaplan March 26, 2026 Duration: 1:05:35

Travis Wood & Alex Mallis are living the director’s dream! Their feature film "The Travel Companion" https://thetravelcompanionfilm.com/ premiered at Tribeca, they have distribution through Oscilloscope, and they’re touring theaters across the country. And now they're on to the next big thing, and this time the goal is to make one dollar on their next film.


And that’s how they start chatting with Matt and Oren about the importance of the metrics and ruler you choose to value yourself. And why that is so important as a filmmaker today.


Ten years ago, there were a lot more outlets looking for films. But if you were around then, you probably remember hearing the same thing about the market ten years before that! Fast-forward to eight years ago, and picture this – that’s the day Travis wrote an email to Oren, hoping to connect and pick his brain about how to get directing opportunities in LA.


Since then, Travis landed a Vimeo staff pick under their belt. And they took an idea they hatched at a film festival and turned it into a feature. But it was far from easy. And man, did they learn a lot about finding financiers, writing dialogue that sounds real, and how to keep having fun through the long years of waiting for people to respond and money to come in.


And Matt really keys in on the advice they have on how to keep control over your filmmaking process, even when everything seems like it’s dependent on others. This is an uplifting episode with a lot of great practical tips and ways to go about your filmmaking process in 2026!


Help Matt's film: https://wefunder.com/badfeeling

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


Matt's Endorsement: Kurosawa's "High and Low" https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057565/

Oren's Endorsement: The 12-liter dog poop trash can is the ideal size

Travis's Endorsement: Chip's Ahoy Cookies

Aaron's Endorsement: "Teddy Out of Tune" https://www.teddyoutoftune.com/ is re-releasing on Blu-ray


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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
3 Career-Changing Emails - Just Shoot It 433 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:39
In this episode Carlyn Hudson joins Matt and Oren to read some of the most impactful emails that they have sent and received in terms of moving their filmmaking careers forward.Matt's Endorsement: Don't Change your Email…
Step-Friends w/Selyna Warren & Melissa Read - Just Shoot It 432 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Selyna Warren & Melissa Read hop on the pod this week to talk about showrunning Foursome on YouTube Premium as well as their new proof-of-concept Step-Friend!Matt's Endorsement: Romeo & Juliet on CriterionOren's Endorsem…
Opening Shots w/Matt & Oren - Just Shoot It 431 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:09
It's another Matt & Oren episode! This week the fellas do a deep dive into the importance of an opening shot, what kinds of shots to avoid, and how to find and craft the perfect opening shot for your project!Matt's Endor…
Pitching Strategies w/Matt & Oren - Just Shoot It 429 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:33
It's another Matt & Oren episode! This week, the fellas do a little catching up and discuss pitching strategies and treatments!Matt's Endorsement: Meaningful Meeting SpotsOren's Endorsement: Time Shifter App, Lactaid Mil…
Negotiating Your Directing Rate w/Scott Feinstein - Just Shoot It 428 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:24
This week, Matt & Oren chat with industry-veteran, Scott Feinstein, about his commercial director consultation services and what it takes to break into the business! Matt's Endorsement: Carl's Jr CommercialOren's Endorse…
Meditations on Directing w/Nina Meredith - Just Shoot It 427 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:48
This week, Matt & Oren chatted with Director Nina Meredith about her commercial and documentary filmmaking career, along with a breakdown of her latest project!Matt's Endorsement: Richard Linklater InterviewOren's Endors…
Lessons In Cinematography w/Jason Oldak - Just Shoot It 426 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:37
ASC-nominated Cinematographer, Jason Oldak, hops on the pod this week to chat with Matt & Oren about his career leading up to working on the hit AppleTV show, Lessons in Chemistry, starring Brie Larson!Matt's Endorsement…
The Last Movie Ever Made w/Nathan Blackwell - Just Shoot It 425 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:38
This week, Nathan Blackwell hops on the pod to chat about his new Indie/Sci-Fi/Comedy feature, The Last Movie Ever Made! Matt's Endorsement: Eating SeasonallyOren's Endorsement: ScriptnotesNathan's Endorsement: Veratasiu…

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