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


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…