What Makes a Good Producer w/Kelly Christensen - Just Shoot It 484

What Makes a Good Producer w/Kelly Christensen - Just Shoot It 484

Author: Filmmakers Matt Enlow & Oren Kaplan July 17, 2025 Duration: 1:09:30

Kelly Christensen built a toolkit for crafting a lasting career as a commercial producer. And he shares what directors can do to stand out and keep getting hired. Matt and Oren chat with Kelly about what makes his secret sauce. And you may be surprised to find out about the many layers and why it's different for each person. 


Sure, collaboration matters. But what does that really look like? What are the nuances of lasting collaboration with agencies and production companies? What role does a producer play in making your life as a director easier? And what can you do to make sure producers recommend you for future gigs?


You can find Kelly on Instagram at @kellyman


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Matt's Endorsement: The Business podcast about M3GAN 2.0 flop and the Blumehouse slump https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-business/id73330606



Oren's Endorsement: Tell your kids about the scary parts of a movie (ask your friends what the scary parts are), before you take your kids to see the movie. And traffic etiquette is a great topic for small talk.  


Kelly's Endorsement: the free streaming site https://www.kanopy.com/


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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
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…