Turning 'Keily: Homecoming Dweeb' into a Feature w/Emily Elizabeth Thomas- Just Shoot It 487

Turning 'Keily: Homecoming Dweeb' into a Feature w/Emily Elizabeth Thomas- Just Shoot It 487

Author: Filmmakers Matt Enlow & Oren Kaplan August 7, 2025 Duration: 1:29:15

Director Emily Elizabeth Thomas joins Matt and Oren to talk about her journey from commercial success to directing vertical series and feature films.


Meanwhile, Oren’s been updating his website and shares some valuable insights on what to include in your reel, what to leave out, and why it matters. And that leads into Matt sharing some insightful data on how many views a reel gets per day.


Back to Emily—she’s all about making everything feel like a movie, even a vertical series. She shares how she fought for that vision and explains how shooting open gate helped convince producers they could save money doing it her way. And maybe even make more with some luck.


At her core, Emily is a craft-driven filmmaker with a passion for detail. She talks about her love for set design and working with artisanal couturiers to find the perfect accessories, like a custom western hat from Austin or hours spent digging through costumes at Warner Brothers.


The episode wraps with practical tips on surgically using tools like jibs, Steadicams, and Technocrane (yeah the gear producers often assume is out of budget) to maximize production value and scope on a tight budget.


You can find Emily here:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8502506/

https://www.electriccowgirl.xyz/

IG: @emilyelizabeththomas/


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Matt's Endorsement: Letterboxd's interview with the stars of "I Like Movies" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE1kANkYGSw and the movie itself https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14913282/ 


Oren's Endorsement: The book "Linchpin" by Seth Godin https://seths.store/linchpin/. The subreddit /vfx https://www.reddit.com/r/vfx/. And, Filmvibes https://filmvibes.io/



Emily's Endorsement: Jean Paul Gauthier's Wardrobe design and Styling of the movie "The Fifth Element". Vidiots theatre https://vidiotsfoundation.org/. And the movie itself https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119116/


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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
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