One Good Take

If you’re doing anything in film right now, over the past year or so, you’ve probably come across a plethora of posts and threads written by filmmakers bemoaning the broken model of independent filmmaking today. 

If you can even raise a budget to make a film, how do you even break even once you’ve completed it? Unless you’re friends with an A lister or B lister or your uncle’s a billionaire, you’re pretty much consigned to the graveyard of filmmakers who give up having bet their house on their passion project. So goes the tenor of these observations.

But could there be an alternative to this picture of gloom and doom? Recently I came across a filmmaker who not only thinks there is, he’s proving there is. For his film Woodbridge, writer, producer director Stephen Meier had the inspired idea to cast influencers who could act. Why is that a smart idea? Because these influencers have a big and dedicated following. 

I got together with Stephen to find out more about his business strategy and of course his journey from script to screen and beyond. 

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So you know about Ukraine, you know about Gaza, but did you know there’s an even bigger war raging in Africa? At least in terms of death toll. i'm referring to the war in the Congo. Even though millions have died and many thousands are still dying, it’s a conflict that's hardly reported. 

My guest for this episode is a man who set out to make a film about what’s been going on, and in so doing put an assassin’s mark on his back. 

Kim Yew, filmmaker and trader, talks to me about film and his absolutely extraordinary win rate trading with a proprietary fibonacci tool and a strategy he learnt from Alla Peters-Plocher.

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Towards the end of 2023, I got together with actor, writer/director and producer,Titus Paar. He’s the kind of guy who when faced with 100 rejections in a row will simply reach out to friends and family, pitch them his mad cap adventure and go do it anyway. 

It’s that can-do spirit that’s taken him from shooting on a zero budget to working with Hollywood stars. And no, he’s not based in LA, he’s based in a village in Sweden. Out in the wilderness, he says. All that wide open space keeps him chilled and inspired. 

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Titus Paar made his first feature film at the age of fifteen on a cheap video camera with a bunch of mates. It was crap, he says, but the point is, he managed it. 

It’s that same can-do spirit that’s taken him from shooting on a zero budget to working with Hollywood stars today. If you're feeling even slightly jaded from banging your head against a brick wall funding your first or next feature film and could do with a shot of inspiration, this episode is for you. 

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Writer/director Michael DiBasio Ornelas shot his second feature film in 8 days. Impressive. It was hard, he said, but we didn’t go into overtime. Even more impressive. 

- Two leads with extensive theatre experience 
- Five days of paid rehearsals 
- Lightweight camera on a lightweight gimbal
- We hired a great crew, that gelled easily 
- All locations within a 4 mile radius 

Michael has been directing content for some time. Sleepless, his 8-day feature, is out now on amazon prime and some other streamers. 

In this episode we’ll be talking about how he made the film, the themes he set out to explore with his two main characters and where we are now with indie filmmaking without bankable stars. Enjoy this take.

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Writer/Director Michael DiBasio Ornelas talks to me about his second feature film, Sleepless, an engaging, talkie movie about a couple of insomniacs who meet by chance inside a 24/7 store and then get to hang out one sleepless night walking through the streets of New York. 

As well as an in-depth look at the film, we also look at how he made the film, from picking a script to fit his budget to casting and distribution. 

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Friederich Oetker, film & TV producer of the highly compelling Netflix series, Dear Child (Das Kind). We discuss the series - from inception to screen and Friederich's career as a producer in Germany.  

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Friederich Oetker, producer of the highly compelling Netflix series. Join us for the rest of the conversation, episode 57, and find out more about how the series was made. 

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Actor and stuntman, writer/director and producer,Lee Whittaker.   

Lee has appeared in dozens of action movies as actor and stuntman – but has a real passion for telling the kinds of stories that seldom interest Hollywood studios. 

Although he stuck to the action genre for his directorial debut, The Vigilante, out this year on Tubi, his next project, still in development, is a story that borrows from magical realism and seeks to invoke compassion is us for a homeless mother and child, without eve dialing up your adrenaline count for the day. 

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Lee Whittakertalks to me about his life in movies as actor, stuntman and film director. For a man who has spent so much of his life in the action genre it was a little surprising – if not gratifying – to hear that his next movie is a character piece influenced by stories like Pan’s Labyrinth. To hear the rest of our conversation, listen to episode 56 of One Good Take.

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I first came across Sophie Robinson’s work on Netflix. She’s the writer/director of one of 4 films that make up a mini-series called The Surgeon’s Cut. Her film – Living Donor – focuses on the life and career of the hugely talented liver surgeon Nancy Ascher. 

Each of these four films are, in my view,  equally superb. Sophie just happened to be the only director in the group who is based in London – which made it fairly straightforward for us to get together at the end of August 2023.

If you want to watch the interview we did on camera, you'll find it by clicking here.

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With DVDs a thing of the past, and streaming the norm, it seems to me making an independent film that actually makes a profit gets harder and harder. Which does rather pose the question, How in hell’s name do you persuade anyone to invest in such a venture? 

I thought I’d bring onto the show a filmmaker who might have an answer to that question. 

James Smith is a British film director who has on more than one occasion half killed himself making feature films on micro budgets at breakneck speed and then managed to sell the finished product to a streamer.

So, if you’re in the indie space wondering, how can I make my first feature for peanuts and a can of Red Bull, dive right in because I think you’ll find this episode with James quite rewarding.

James's latest film is Casting Kill and tells the story of a fraudster posing as a casting director who preys on actors desperate to win their big break. 

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With DVDs a thing of the past, and streaming the norm, it seems to me making an independent film that actually makes a profit gets harder and harder. Which does rather pose the question, How in hell’s name do you persuade anyone to invest in such a venture? 

I thought I’d bring onto the show a filmmaker who might have an answer to that question. 

James Smith is a British film director who has on more than one occasion half killed himself making feature films on micro budgets at breakneck speed and then managed to sell the finished product to a streamer. 

So, if you’re in the indie space wondering, how can I make my first feature for peanuts and a can of Red Bull, dive right in because I think you’ll find this episode with James quite rewarding. 

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In episode 54 I talk with film editor Matteo Bini.

Matteo moved to London from Italy in 2011 for the MA in Editing at the prestigious National Film and Television School. 

He graduated in 2013 with a distinction and received the Christie Award for Most Promising Student.

Among Bini's recent works as an editor are Charlotte Regan’s debut feature film Scrapper, winner of the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance 2023.  Cathy Brady’s debut feature film Wildfire, winner of the BIFA best debut screenwriter 2021 and Prevenge by Alice Lowe, selected as the Opening Film of the 31. Venice International Film Critics’ Week.

Amongst his documentary work, The Confession by Sam Hobkinson, Pelé  by Dave Thryon and Ben Nicholas, 

Return to Podor by Oscar winner director Kevin Macdonald and Pistorius, a feature documentary series about the iconic athlete, and convicted murderer Oscar Pistorius. 

For TV  he worked on the critically acclaimed series  Top Boy,   directed by William Stephen Smith, Riches created by Abby Ajay and directed by Sebastian Thiel and Glue, the E4 TV drama by Bafta-winning writer Jack Thorne, nominated at the Broadcast Awards for Best Multichannel Programme.

His short film credits include Balcony, winner of the Crystal Bear at the 2016 Berlinale Film Festival, 

Change in the Weather, premiered at the Clermont-Ferrand film festival 2016 and Morning, winner of the Irish Film and Television Award 2013 and nominated for Best Short Film at the European Film Awards 2013.

In 2014 Bini co-directed and co-wrote the Italian feature film Io, Arlecchino produced by Officina della Comunicazione and Rai Cinema. The film premiered at the Rome Film Festival and was released nationwide in Italy in June 2015.

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In episode 54 I talk with film editor Matteo Bini.

Matteo moved to London from Italy in 2011 for the MA in Editing at the prestigious National Film and Television School. 

He graduated in 2013 with a distinction and received the Christie Award for Most Promising Student.

Among Bini's recent works as an editor are Charlotte Regan’s debut feature film Scrapper, winner of the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance 2023.  Cathy Brady’s debut feature film Wildfire, winner of the BIFA best debut screenwriter 2021 and Prevenge by Alice Lowe, selected as the Opening Film of the 31. Venice International Film Critics’ Week.

Amongst his documentary work, The Confession by Sam Hobkinson, Pelé  by Dave Thryon and Ben Nicholas, 

Return to Podor by Oscar winner director Kevin Macdonald and Pistorius, a feature documentary series about the iconic athlete, and convicted murderer Oscar Pistorius. 

For TV  he worked on the critically acclaimed series  Top Boy,   directed by William Stephen Smith, Riches created by Abby Ajay and directed by Sebastian Thiel and Glue, the E4 TV drama by Bafta-winning writer Jack Thorne, nominated at the Broadcast Awards for Best Multichannel Programme.

His short film credits include Balcony, winner of the Crystal Bear at the 2016 Berlinale Film Festival, 

Change in the Weather, premiered at the Clermont-Ferrand film festival 2016 and Morning, winner of the Irish Film and Television Award 2013 and nominated for Best Short Film at the European Film Awards 2013.

In 2014 Bini co-directed and co-wrote the Italian feature film Io, Arlecchino produced by Officina della Comunicazione and Rai Cinema. The film premiered at the Rome Film Festival and was released nationwide in Italy in June 2015.

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Shamim Sarif is an award-winning filmmaker who started her creative career writing novels.

Whereas most filmmakers go through a rash of shorts before they can take a crack at directing a feature, Shamim was able to bypass all of that and dive straight in to her first feature in 2007.

Her fifth feature film, an indie drama called Polarized, was shot in Manitoba, Canada, and released earlier this year. It’s this film that we’ll be discussing for most of the episode. Enjoy this take. 

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Introducing filmmaker and novelist Shamim Sarif talking to me on Episode 52 of One Good Take. 

Our main reason for getting together was to discuss her latest film, Polarized, an indie drama that explores the friendship and, later, romantic connection between two young women who come from the same town in North America, but very different worlds: one being white, the other Palestinian. 

Polarized is a well observed, deeply authentic story with a truly inclusive spirit to carry it along and a beautiful rural landscape to please the eye. Listen to the full conversation with Shamim on Episode 52.

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If you're an indie filmmaker, I think you'll enjoy this one. I got together with writer/director Brendan Cleaves in February 2023 to discuss low to get short films and low budget features off the ground without maxing out your credit card.

Brendan's films tend to be on the funny side, or at least quirky. 

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Independent producer and consultant, Steve Longi,has a very clear mission for himself: to make movies with great stories that are, as he would put it, about something. 

He’s particularly drawn to true stories that raise strong social issues. For example: his film Hacksaw Ridge, directed by Mel Gibson, which tells the story of Desmond Doss, a conscientious objector, who distinguished himself as a combat medic by saving 75 men at the battle of Okinawa in the Second World War. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it. 

My starting point with Steve was to ask him about his process – from script to screen – and to get his view on the evolution of indie filmmaking. 

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Steve Longiis an independent producer and consultant, based in LA, with a very clear mission for himself: to make movies with great stories that are, as he would put it, about something. 

He’s particularly drawn to true stories that raise strong social issues. For example: his film Hacksaw Ridge, directed by Mel Gibson, which tells the story of Desmond Doss, a conscientious objector, who distinguished himself as a combat medic by saving 75 men at the battle of Okinawa in the Second World War. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it. 

My starting point with Steve was to ask him about his process – from script to screen – and to get his view on the evolution of indie filmmaking. 

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American actress and playwright Faina Vitebsky. Like me, Faina is in film, theatre... and trading. This is an honest conversation about lessons learned while chasing down two tough careers. 

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Short clip from my conversation with American actress and playwright Faina Vitebsky. Like me, Faina is in film, theatre... and trading. Join us for the full conversation from the main episode. 

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My next guest is Greg Koorhan, an American film director, producer and co-founder of Crossbow Studio.

Greg began his career as an art director in ad land, where he got a thorough understanding of concise, simple story-telling that moves its intended audience. He later started direct his own ads and short films before moving on to feature film projects.

His teen/family feature film Project Pay Day premiered on Apple TV in 2021. Greg and I got together in the summer of 2022. Here’s that take. 

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Short clip from Episode 47 with film producer Susan Simnett. Susan started making films rather late in life. How refreshing, I thought. What’s more, they happen to be very good.

On her website Over The Fence Films, Susan  says she seeks out stories that 'provoke, stories that embrace who we are and where we might go, stories that shift our axis of understanding.''

Follow Susanon Twitter.

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Short clip from Episode 47 with film producer Susan Simnett. Susan started making films rather late in life. How refreshing, I thought. What’s more, they happen to be very good.

On her website Over The Fence Films, Susan  says she seeks out stories that 'provoke, stories that embrace who we are and where we might go, stories that shift our axis of understanding.''

Follow Susanon Twitter.

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Most journeys take a winding path. My guest today started out as an actor. Switched to editing and color grading and later began producing and directing his own short films while still living in Australia. It wasn’t until he moved to the States that he got his big breakthrough as creator of a TV drama called A Good Cop.

In this episode, he shares with us some insightful observations on how to go from a sheet of paper with a few loglines to running your own TV show. David Chaiand I got together early in July 2022. Here’s that take. 

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Most journeys take a winding path. My guest today started out as an actor. Switched to editing and color grading and later began producing and directing his own short films while still living in Australia. It wasn’t until he moved to the States that he got his big breakthrough as creator of a TV drama called A Good Cop.

In this episode, he shares with us some insightful observations on how to go from a sheet of paper with a few loglines to running your own TV show. David Chaiand I got together early in July 2022.  

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Writer/director/producer Paul Dudbridge is an indpendent filmmaker based in Bristol England. 

If you’re an independent filmmaker yourself, and therefore working to a tight budget, this is a good episode to listen to. 

Besides his own personal tales, Paul goes on to give us some useful tips on reverse engineering a script so that it appeals to name cast and investors alike. 

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Director Paul Dudbridge is an independent filmmaker based in Bristol, England. it was immediately apparent from our conversation that Paul has become pretty smart at reverse engineering a script so that it works as a vehicle for name cast and investors. 

Join us for the rest of our conversation, episode 45 of One Good Take. 

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Episode 44 - with writer/director and producer Chuck Parello.

Chuck started out as a journalist, reviewing movies. Having championed John McNaughton’s chilling cult classic Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, he went on to run McNaughton’s film production company for a while.

A few years later he got the chance to write and direct a sequel to McNaughton’s movie starring a young Kate Walsh. He’s been in crime ever since. 

Chuck and I got together in March 2022. 

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This is just a clip from my session with  writer/director and producer Chuck Parello,  recorded mid Mach 2022. 

I don’t know about you, but somehow that’s a voice that readily evokes the world of true crime. 

Chuck’s produced some distinctive dark crime movies and, from the sounds of things, has a couple of new ones on the go that could prove even more compelling. 

Join us for the rest of our conversation, episode 44 of One Good Take. 

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Today on One Good Take – screenwriter Carol Younghusband. 

We got together at the end of January 2022 to talk about how she first started writing, what inspired her then and what inspires her today. She gives us a few specific examples of how she set about finding producers, directors, cast and, toughest job of all, how she raised the necessary funds for each of her own short film projects. 

What struck me was how grounded and modest she is. Just doing her thing and doing it her way. Here’s that take. 

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Screenwriter Carol Younghusband talks to me on Episode 43.

We got together at the end of January 2022. I asked her about how she first started writing, what inspired her then, what inspires her  today. She also gives us a few specific examples of how she set about finding producers, directors, cast and, toughest job of all, how she raised the necessary funds for each of her own short film projects. 

What struck me was how grounded and modest she is. Just doing her thing and doing it her way. Listen to the rest of our conversation on Episode 43.   

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For Episode 42 I got to talk to writer/producer director Kenneth Kemp based out of LA. 

Ken started his career in the corporate sector of filmmaking. He went on to cover sporting events at a very high level including multiple Olympic Games. 

Having established himself as a producer/director, he took a crack at writing. He now has a handful of projects in development that explore very different worlds. Anyone wanting to improve their pitch, this episode is well worth a listen. 

We got together at the end of 2021. Enjoy this the take. 

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In Episode 42 I got together with writer/producer director Kenneth Kemp.

Ken started his career in the corporate sector of filmmaking. He went on to cover sporting events at a very high level including multiple Olympic Games. Having established himself as a producer/director, he took a crack at writing.   

He now has a handful of projects in development that explore very different worlds, a tv series he’s pitching as poker version of The Gambit and the story of a remarkable Englishman who survived a serious car crash to become a successful businessman and racer of pigeons. It doesn’t get more varied than that. Listen to the rest of our conversation on Episode 42.   

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Episode 41 is with cinematographer Mark Wolf. 

I first came across Mark a good few years ago when I was hunting around for a DP for one of my own film projects. Back then he was mainly shooting documentaries, shorts and music videos. 

Over the past few years I’ve seen his name pop up in the credits of some of this country’s best dramas. I’m hardly surprised. His work has always stood out for me. A lot of camerawork is handheld today, but Mark’s choices with lighting, framing and timing are pretty exceptional. 

We usually think of directors as having a signature, but when I saw the drama Help, directed by Marc Munden, my first thought was that the cameraman was the same man who shot the equally powerful drama, Time, directed by Lewis Arnold. 

We met over zencastr in November 2021. Enjoy this the take. 

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This is a clip from my conversation with cinematographer Mark Wolf

Mark started off filming under water, then moved on land to shoot music videos, shorts, documentaries and more recently some very powerful dramas, including Help, Time and Des. 

Listen to the rest of our conversation on One Good Take, episode 41.   

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On today’s episode I talk with producer Shaun O’Banion.

Among other things, we cover how Shaun sneaked onto a film set and got himself hired as a production assistant, soon finding himself working right alongside some of the big names in Hollywood, before stepping out on his own as an indie producer.

Now based in Prague, he has a clutch of projects he is developing for his own company, Ravenwood Films, while doing a bit of script consulting for names like Stage 32. 

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This is a clip from my conversation with producer Shaun O’Banion.

Among other things, we chat about how Shaun sneaked onto a film set and got himself hired as a production assistant, soon finding himself working right alongside some of the big names in Hollywood, before stepping out on his own as an indie producer.

Now based in Prague, he has a clutch of projects he is developing for his own company, Ravenwood Films, while doing a bit of script consulting for names like Stage 32. 

Listen to the full epissode - Episode 40. 

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My next guest is a writer director who started out life playing guitar in a heavy rock band. When that went belly up, he tried his hand at an equally tough career to crack – making films. 

His second choice seems to be working out a lot better. To date he’s picked up over 40 awards for his films and screenplays in categories such as Best Director, Best Narrative Feature, Best Short Film, Best Screenplay, Gran Jury Award, Special Jury Award and Audience Choice.

After a sometimes hair-raising spell directing reality shows, he got to direct his first feature, a comedy called The Truth About Lies, in 2015.

We’d never met before this podcast, but after just a few minutes chatting with Phil Allocco, I felt an immediate connection. In fact, we had quite a blast. Here’s that take. 

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Here you have a clip from my conversation with writer/director Phil Allocco. 

Phil and I had never met before this podcast, but after just a few minutes of talking with Phil, I felt an immediate connection. 

He grew up in a tough neighbourhood in New York when New York was still pretty crazy – the seventies. He survived that and other wild escapades in reality TV and went on to shoot his first feature, an award-winning comedy, a few years ago. 

Do join us for the rest of the conversation. That’s episode 39 of One Good Take.

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In Episode 38 of One Good Take I talk with film, and TV consultant David Zannoni. As a consultant for Fintage House he negotiates agreements for films and television series, and is involved in business development and relationship management in the US, Latin America and Spain. 

Coonect with David? Find him on LinkedIn.

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This is a clip from my conversation with film consultant David Zannoni. 

David’s been working in film and TV since 2007 and works remotely from a village in Mexico. As a consultant for Fintage House, he negotiates agreements for films and television series, and is involved in business development and relationship management in the US, Latin America and Spain. 

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In Episode 37 of One Good Take I talk with Lisa Tuvalo, a writer/producer/director based in Maryland, USA. 

It’s not often I come across a filmmaker who started her career in science – but that’s Lisa. First science and music, then acting, and more recently producing and directing films. 

Having made a clutch of accomplished short films, she’s now developing a slate of feature films. I hope you find Lis's understated tenacity  and dry humour by turns inspiring and engaging!  

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Today on ONE GOOD TAKE, Alexandra Blue, an independent film and TV producer originally from Adelaide, Australia.

After only a few minutes talking with her, it was clear to me Alex has a real gift for getting herself and her creative teams funded for short films, features and tv projects.

Having worked for some established film companies in the UK she now has her own production company, Blue Bird Productions. How did she get there? I wanted to know. Short question to a long answer, perhaps, but here’s that take in under 40 minutes.   

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In episode 36 I talk with Alexandra Blue, an independent film and TV producer from Australia, now based in London, UK. 

After only a few minutes talking with her, it was clear to me Alex has a real gift for getting herself and her creative teams funded for short films, features and tv projects through her production company, Blue Bird Productions. 

Alex relates how she got started, her key turning points, and outlines the kinds of stories that get her excited. Join us for the full episode on this platform, episode 36.

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Today on ONE GOOD TAKE, Gina Lyons, an independent film and TV producer in London, UK.  
Gina set out to be an actress, got tired of having doors slammed in her face and threw herself into producing – and has never looked back. 

We talk about her early beginnings, her process and the various shops she pitches her projects to. 

Tune in to the energy in her voice and I think you’ll find this session quite refreshing.  

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This is the trailer for Episode 35, when I was talking with Gina Lyons, an independent film and TV producer based in London, UK.  

Gina set out to be an actress, got tired of having doors slammed in her face and threw herself into producing – and has never looked back. 

We talk about her early beginnings, her process and the various shops she pitches her projects to.

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My guest today is Mike Moreno, actor and show host of thepodcast Actor CEO.

Mike grew up in LA. Still a teenager he found he a flair for stand-up. As a young man he went  on to pick up work on TV shows as an actor. 

Today he operates out of New York. As you’ll soon hear, Mike is big on encouraging actors and artists to go out there and make their own films and IP. 

This session is worth listening to simply for the passion and conviction Mike brings to his empowering message – if you’re an actor, stop waiting for the next call to self-tape, start creating your own chances.

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That is the trailer for my session with Mike Moreno, actor and show host of the podcast Actor CEO. 

Mike has done the whole LA thing but now operates out of New York. He is big on encouraging actors and artists to go out there and make their own films and IP. 

His key message is simple but empowering: Don’t wait, do it yourself… There is no excuse – if you reach out to other ambitious and talented people and take action, even with very little money, you can create our own success… and you can start right now. 

Listen to the full episode from the file stacked above this one.

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Hello and welcome to One Good Take. Today on the show – writer/directorJames Webber. 

I was particularly interested to talk to James, as we’ve both been writing, directing and producing short films for some time now, and had many a shot at getting a feature funded. James at least has managed to complete his first feature film and he’s now actively looking for distribution deals for it. 

Refreshingly he chose to make a very personal piece, a drama called Sorority. He financed it for around £100K, shot it in under 3 weeks and the trailer looks great. We talk about the story, the development, how he got cast and money together to make the film, and other related stuff. Here’s that take.

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This is a clip from my session with writer/director James Webber. 

I was particularly interested to talk to James, as we’ve both been writing, directing and producing short films for some time now, and had many a shot at getting a feature film funded. James at least has managed to complete his first feature film and he’s now actively looking for distribution deals for it. 

Refreshingly, he chose to make a very personal piece, a drama called Sorority. He financed it for around £100K, shot it in under 3 weeks and the trailer looks great. We talk about the story, the development, how he got cast and money together to make the film, and other related stuff. Listen to the rest of the conversation with James from the file next to this one.

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Today on the show - producer Jay Taylor and writer director John Jencks, joint founders of the London based film production and finance company Electric Shadow Company. 

Both guys struck me as adapting well to the fast changing landscape of the business and yet losing none of their passion for making original and thought-provoking entertainment. 

Enjoy this take. 

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Trailer to Epsiode 32:

Writer/director John Jencks expressing a familiar frustration for most filmmakers grounded by Covid for the past twelve months.

I’m also joined by his producer partner Jay Taylor and together we explore how they formed their production company Electric Shadow, starting with shorts, then features and, more recently, making forays into TV. 

Listen to the rest of the conversation from the listing above this one.

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Today on the show - composer Dominik Scherrer. 

Don’t know the name, you’ll almost certainly know his music. He’s written the scores to a great variety of films and TV dramas and has never been in greater demand.

We open today’s episode discussing how he came to write the score to the superlative mini series, The Serpent,  what his process was and his overall experience on the show. We then go back in time to when Dominik first got into writing music to picture.  

Enjoy this take.

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Today on ONE GOOD TAKE – composer Dominik Scherrer. 

Don’t know the name, you’ll almost certainly know his music. He’s written the scores of great variety of films and TV dramas and has never been in greater demand. His score to the superlative mini series, The Serpent, is one of the most compellingly dark title sequences I’ve ever heard. We open today’s episode discussing how he came to write the score, what his process was and his overall experience on the show. We then go back in time to when Dominik first got into writing music to picture.  

Listen to the rest of the conversation with Dominik when I publish later today on One Good Take.

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My next guest is a man who at one time in his life was busting down doors and booking crack dealers in New Orleans.

Today, Chuck Hustmyre spends the best part of his time at home writing and pitch action scripts that draw heavily on his years of being a cop and a Federal agent. 

Enjoy this take.

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This is a clip from my conversation with screenwriter Chuck Hustmyre. 

Chuck has successfully drawn on his 22 years in law enforcement to write gritty action thrillers that get made for around 2-5 million US dollars. You can watch his latest title – Disturbing the Peace – starring Guy Pearce on amazon prime. 

Join us for the full episode when I publish later today on One Good Take.

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In this episode of One Good Take I chat with cinematographer Seppe van Grieken.

I first came across Seppe’s work in the superb TV series The Serpent, starring Tahar Rahim and Jenna Coleman, based on the crimes of serial killer, Charles Sobhraj. 

I was hugely impressed by the show and asked Seppe to talk to me about his part in creating this casually chaotic seventies world of backpackers in Thailand and Asia. 

This episode is a bit longer than usual, as we go into some technical stuff about choice of lenses and cameras, so I’ve split it into two in case you’re short of time. Enjoy this take.

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This is a clip from my conversation with cinematographer Seppe van Grieken.

I first came across Seppe’s work on the superb TV series The Serpent, starring Tahar Rahim and Jenna Coleman, based on the crimes of serial killer, Charles Sobhraj. 

I was hugely impressed by everything about the show and asked Seppe to talk to us about his part in creating this casually chaotic seventies world of backpackers in Thailand and Asia.

Join us for the full episode.

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In this episode of One Good Take I chat with writer/ director and head of development at Featuristic Films, James Kermack. 

I was interested to hear how James got started as a first-time indie director and how he used that first credit to go on to direct his second feature, a pulp crime movie set in a surreal London underworld called Knuckeldust. 

Appreciate it when you subscribe.

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Writer/ director and head of development at Featuristic Films, James Kermack, talking to me on One Good Take about the rapidly changing landscape of independent film and TV. Join us for the full episode sitting alongside this trailer.

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On this episode I talk with producer manager Kristen Lucas. Kristen is based out of Massachusetts but has strong ties with Hollywood. 

Her independent film company, Goldilocks Productions, goes with the tagline “We tell stories about badass women.” 

We talk about her short film Snowflake that won “Best Narrative Short” at the Los Angeles Women’s International Film Festival in 2017, her approach to finding new talent and developing new projects, as well as her own view on the opportunities she sees emerging from the global pandemic. 

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This is a clip from my session with producer manager Kristen Lucas. Kris is based out of Massachusetts but has strong ties with Hollywood.

Her independent film company, Goldilocks Productions, goes with the tagline “We tell stories about badass women.” 

Her short film Snowflake won “Best Narrative Short” at the Los Angeles Women’s International Film Festival in 2017, as well as many others. She’s also the founder of Respect Her Hustle, a brand and podcast that’s focused on supporting and honoring women who break the mould and don’t look back.

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In this episode I talk with writer/director Ben Reid. Over the last decade Ben’s work has received EMMY, Grierson, RTS and BAFTA nominations and awards. 

Our focus in this episode of One Good Take is Innocence, his most recent short film. You can watch the film from the link in the show notes. In fact I recommend you pause this now, and watch it first – it’s around 20 minutes in length – then come back to this; our discussion will be more illuminating if you do. 

Watch Ben's film, Innocence.

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This is a clip from my session with writer/director Ben Reid. Over the last decade Ben’s work has received EMMY, Grierson, RTS and BAFTA nominations and awards. 

 Our focus in this episode of One Good Take is Innocence, which I personally rate as one of the best crime drama shorts I’ve ever seen. Besides being a well paced, very believable crime story set in a care home where people are not quite how they seem, it’s a bold issue-based drama that sets out to challenge some of our preconceptions about people with Down syndrome. 

Before you listen to the full episode from this platform or alternative streaming platform, such as iTunes. I recommend you watch Ben's film, Innocence.

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I have with me on the show today an actor/writer/producer whose talent for developing commercially viable projects and pitching them with gusto makes him a go-to guy for filmmakers looking for ideas and inspiration for getting their film projects done. 

The roster of films he’s produced over the years includes LANSKY, starring Harvey Keitel, Sam Worthington and Minka Kelly, LOVE N’ DANCING, directed by Rob Iscove, THE ALPHABET KILLER, a psychological thriller directed by Rob Schmidt, and THE ATTIC, a thriller directed by Mary Lambert starring John Savage and Elisabeth Moss. 

His own company, Trick Candle Productions, is known for its quality independent films that span a variety of genres. Titles include TRAUMA THERAPY, a thriller, SCREAMERS, a found footage horror, HERO OF THE UNDERWORLD and FAIR HAVEN.

Not content to stop with production he also co-founded a sales and distribution company – Glass House Distribution. So who is this polymath of talents? Please welcome, in a virtual sort of way, Tom Malloy. Tom and I got together at the end of 2020. And here’s that take. 

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This is a clip from my session with actor/writer/producer Tom Malloy.

Just a few minutes in Tom’s company is like a shot in the arm. You start to think , OK, this is going to be the moment when I can turn things around, get things done.... get that film project that's been languishing in development hell out the door, alive and kicking. 

Hope you find the full episode inspirational.

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Today on the show  - Eric Calderon. 

Eric has 26 years’ experience in writing, development, & co-productions for animation in the US, Canada, South East Asia, and Japan. He is the SVP of Development for Octopie, an animation studio owned by Joe & Anthony Russo (the Avengers Directors). 

He’s also the founder and host of 'Surviving Animation,' an industry-focused educational YouTube channel. 

But perhaps most importantly – from your point of view: he’s very listenable. Even if animation isn’t specifically your thing, I think you’ll enjoy Eric’s stories, insights and good humour about the film & TV industry. Here’s that take. 

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Trailere to Episode 24 of One Good Take - talking with development exec, Eric Calderon. 

As you can probably appreciate already Eric has a very listenable voice. 

Eric’s specialty is animation. He’s worked on a lot of successful shows, and has spent a few years out in Japan with some of the big names in anime. Listen to the full episode from buzzsprout of your favourite podcast platform.  

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In this episode of One Good Take I got together with Development Executive Beth Aynsley of Hillbilly Films in the UK.  

Beth is part of a 5-women team and works alongside executive producers Polly Leys and Kate Norrish.  

Beth gives an upbeat, honest and humble account of how she made the transition from being an actor – she loved acting, hated being an actor – to development work and talks with real passion for what she does in film and TV.  

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This is a clip from episode 23 of One Good Take, when I was talking with development exec Beth Aynsley of Hillbilly Films in the UK. 

Beth gives an upbeat, honest and even humble account of how she made the transition from acting to development work and talks with real passion for what she does in film and TV.

Listen to the full episode sitting alongside this one on Buzzsprout or your favourite podcast platform.

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In Episode 22 I run a short interview with my daughter, writer/director Shiona Penrake, on the day her short film, Look Inside, gets its World Premiere on YouTube.

Set in a surreal world, Look Inside tells the story of a teenage girl who discovers the secret to being liked in an unfriendly world just as she is about to give up all hope.

The film reached the Finals of Stage 32’s Short Film Contest, summer of 2020, and today, Valentine’s Day, it becomes available to everyone to watch. 

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In the last quarter of 2020 I watched a documentary about the origins and evolution of the streaming giant, Netflix. I really enjoyed the film. For me at least, it seemed to capture the spirit of Californian entrepreneurship without sensationalising the narrative. The film was produced and directed by Shawn Cauthen, who is on the show with me today, talking about how he came to make Netflix v. the World and other projects he’s got on the go. Here’s that take.

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That is a clip from my conversation with Shawn Cauthen writer/director producer of the excellent documentary Netflix v. the World. Shawn is on the show with me today, talking about how he came to make this film – now available on amazon prime, I highly recommend it – and other projects he’s developing currently. Listen to the full episode when it’s out later this afternoon, UK time. 

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In this episode of One Good Take writer/producer Donna Taylor talks to me about her early beginnings as an actress and producer of theatre, her recent, award-winning short film and her new TV pilot which in December 2020 is now in pre-production. 

What came across to me during our conversation was just how humble and determined Donna is in producing stories that rouse her audience and inspire change.  

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For Episode 20 I talk with writer/producer Donna Taylor about her new TV pilot currently in pre-production. 

As you can tell just from that short clip, Donna’s big on making a difference through her writing. 

What came across to me during our conversation was just how humble and determined Donna is in producing stories that rouse her audience and inspire change. 

Full epsiode here.

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My guest today is Wesley Ambrecht, a writer/producer originally from Bellmore New York now based in LA.

He currently heads up Development & Production at Foundation Film. 

Wes gives a candid account of his ups and downs in Hollywood, peppered with some amusing anecdotes and insights on the way the industry operates and how it’s evolving. 

Here’s this take. 

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This is the trailer for Episode 19 when I was talking to Wesley Ambrecht, writer/producer and VP of Foundation Film in LA . 

If you'd like a candid account of an insider's experiences working in Hollywood, peppered with som amusing anecdotes and insights on the way the industry operatees, check out the full episode from here or any of your favourite podcast platforms. 

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In this episode of One Good Take, I chat with CJ Walley, the founder of the free script hosting website Script Revolution.  

As a spec scriptwriter, he loves to create pulpy thrillers with female leads. He got his first major breakthrough as a screenwriter when American director Shane Stanley came across one of his film blogs. 

When he’s not liaising with his American counterparts, he’s working flat out on Script Revolution. 

If you’re a screenwriter, and especially if you’re a screenwriter based outside of Hollywood, I’m sure you’ll find this conversation inspirational. 

Roll sound.

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In the run-up to Covid Christmas 2020, I got together with writer/producer/director Rob Cosnahan.   Rob was in pre-production for his feature film directorial debut—a caper-comedy about internet scammers in which everything the viewer sees happens on a computer, tablet, or smartphone screen — so of course a lot of our conversation went into detail on script, development and related ideas for that project. 
 
If you're a fan of innovative ways of story-telling for the big screen, a fan perhaps of films like Searching, directed by Aneesh Chaganty, I think you'll find Rob's take on the 'found footage' movie really inetresting. 

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This is the trailer for Episode 17 — my conversation with writer/producer/director Rob Cosnahan. 

In the run up to Covid Christmas 2020, when we got together, Rob was in pre-production for his feature film directorial debut—a caper-comedy about internet scammers in which everything the viewer sees happens on a computer, tablet, or smartphone screen. 

Listen to the full episode later today on One Good Take.       

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In Episode 16 I got together with writer/producer/director Boman Modine.

The son of Hollywood actor Matthew Modine, Boman started his professional life wanting to be a teacher and, somewhat by chance, stumbled upon filmmaking while majoring in History and Comparitive Religion at college.  He now has a slate of projects on the go and a growing interest in animation, not least because it avoids so many of the problems Covid imposes on filmmakers who want to make live action films.

This was a lively conversation peppered with amusing anecdotes and insight on what's happening in the world of film and TV today. 

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This is the trailer to Episode 16 with Boman Modine talking to me about filmmaking in the time of covid. 

The son of Hollywood actor Matthew Modine, Boman started his professional life wanting to be a teacher and, somewhat by chance, stumbled upon filmmaking while majoring in History and Comparitive Religion at college . 

Join us for the full episode to find out what Boman believes is the least problematic area of making films while the pandemic rages on.  

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In Episode 15 of One Good Take,  I got together with Alexia Melocchi of Little Studio Films. 

Alexia is something of a polymath – she started out as a sales agent, making use of her language skills – she only speaks 5 languages, by the way – then turning her hand to producing independent films. 

Over the years, she’s added to those roles, becoming a manager of the talent she works with, as well as consulting and packaging for a whole range of projects in TV and film. She has a tendency, she says, to want to look after stray cats – by which, she means people and projects that need a home. Well, I think we can all warm to that.  

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This is a clip from Episode 15 of One Good Take, when I was talking with Alexia Melocchi of Little Studio Films. 

Alexia is something of a polymath – she started out as a sales agent, making use of her language skills – she only speaks 5 languages, by the way – then turning her hand to producing independent films. 

Over the years, she’s added to those roles, becoming a manager of the talent she works with, as well as consulting and packaging for a whole range of projects in TV and film. She has a tendency, she says, to want to look after stray cats – by which, she means people and projects that need a home. Well, I think we can all warm to that. Listen to the full episode when it’s published later today.  

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For episode I4 I got together with Producer/Director Ian Bonhote.

We talked about the making and aesthetic behind his two big documentaries, McQueen and Rising Phoenix, his early beginnings as a director of music videos and commercials, and the making of his first feature film, Alleycats. 

This is a diverse, personal and honest take on filmmaking, from script to finance and distribution, from a man who feels deeply passionate about the issues he explores in his films. 

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This is the trailer to episode 14 when I got together with Producer/Director Ian Bonhote.

We talked about the making and aesthetic behind his two big documentaries, McQueen and Rising Phoenix, his early beginnings as a director of music videos and commercials, and the making of his first feature film, Alleycats. 

Listen to the full episode out later today or from any of the links to my podcast, One Good Take. 

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For episode 13 when I got together with writer/director, Stephen Ford, and actors Michael Lieberman and Colton Mastro, the core team responsible for the brilliant short film, 2020. 

If you haven’t seen it yet – about 2 million people already have – head on over to YouTube and watch it. 

As the title might suggest, this is an homage/pastiche of the superb war film 1917 directed by Sam Mendes. I think you’ll be amazed and delighted by the wit and ingenuity of a film that was produced right in the middle of a pandemic with a budget of just a few hundred dollars. 

These guys are definitely going places.

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This is the trailer for episode 13 when I got together with writer/director, Stephen Ford, and actors Michael Lieberman and Colton Mastro, the core team responsible for the brilliant short film, 2020. 

If you haven’t seen it yet – about 2 million people already have – head on over to YouTube and watch it. 

As the title might suggest, this is an homage/pastiche of the superb war film 1917 directed by Sam Mendes. I think you’ll be amazed and delighted by the wit and ingenuity of a film that was produced right in the middle of a pandemic with a budget of just a few hundred dollars. 

These guys are definitely going places.

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In this episode I got together with producer J Todd Harris of Branded Pictures Entertainment. 

Todd cut his teeth producing theatre while at Stanford University. He then went on to produce movies and TV. He describes his company as being in the business of acquiring and developing name brand properties from all walks of life for motion picture, web and television.

Even after more than 50 films to his name, Todd has lost none of his passion for exploring new ways of telling stories, be they for small screen, big screen or stage. Some good stuff here around transmedia and developing IP as a brand. I hope you find it inspiring for your own creative endeavours. 

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Trailer to Episode 12 of #podcast One Good Take from the link below. I got together with producer J Todd Harris of Branded Pictures Entertainment.

Some interesting stuff here around IP and transmedia. Listen to the full episode from buzzsprout, or your favourite podcast platform. 

#filmpodcast #filmdevelopment #independentfilm #transmedia #filmproducers #onegoodtake

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In this episode I talk to writer/producer Emily Corcoran of Cork Films. 

Emily is originally from New Zealand and, although she’s now based in London, she makes fullest use of her family connections to help her produce films in a country which in November 2020 is still one of the few countries that is free of Covid-19. 

In the conversation that follows we cover Emily’s early beginnings as an actress and producer of short films right through to her experience of securing finance and talent for her current batch of long form projects during these pandemic months.  

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This is the trailer to Episode when I get to talk to writer/producer Emily Corcoran ofCork Films. 

Emily is originally from New Zealand and, although she’s now based in London, she makes fullest use of her family connections to help her produce films in a country which in November 2020 is still one of the few countries that is free of Covid-19. 

In the conversation that follows we cover Emily’s early beginnings as an actress and producer of short films right through to her experience of securing finance and talent for her current batch of long form projects during these pandemic months.  

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Shortly before the pandemic erupted, Curzon set up a production fund to make the kinds of pictures they would love to see screened in a Curzon Cinema, if only Covid-19 would go away. In this episode I talk to Kristian Brodie who heads up development at Curzon Films. 

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Trailer to my conversation with Kristian Brodie, who heads up development at Curzon Films - that’s the production arm of the famous cinema chain. 

If you want to find out what a development producer at a major UK production fund gets up to, and how he thinks, join us for the full episode on One Good Take.

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This week, producer Laura Rister from Untitled Entertainment in LA, joins me for episode 9 of One Good Take. 

Couple of things that struck me from the get go: Laura loves to champion new talent – in particular female talent – and has a strong predilection for stories that grapple with rousing issues.  

Her first love was journalism, and she got her start in media working at CNN in Washington DC. 

She later moved on to become Head of Casting and VP of Production and Development at Miramax.   

In this episode, I think you’ll quickly get a sense of a grounded but highly driven film professional who is not about to let covid-19 derail any of the projects she’s set her heart on. 

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This is the trailer to Episode 9 of One Good Take when I was talking to Laura Rister, who runs film production at Untitled Entertainment. Laura loves to champion new creative talent, in particular female writers and directors, and, being genre agnostic, is open to a wide range of strong stories.  

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This is the trailer for episode 7 of One Good Take with me, Nicholas Penrake. My guest this week is Amy Guggenehim, a filmmaker from New York.  Amy will be talking to me about her new feature film, When Night Turns to Day, which tells the story of a young American woman and Japanese man who learn to rebuild their broken relationship with the help of the Japanese martial art of Kendo. Look out for the link, or search One Good Take on buzzsprout.com. 

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