Best IndieWires Filmmaker Toolkit Podcasts (2025)

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On this week's IndieWire’s Filmmakers Toolkit podcast: Andrew DeYoung Cracks Friendship — Tim Robinson’s Edge, Paul Rudd’s Surprise 40:15

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22h ago40:15

40:15

On this week’s IndieWire’s Filmmakers Toolkit, Chris O’Falt talks with writer-director Andrew DeYoung about his dark comedy Friendship—now streaming on HBO Max. He reveals how he shaped Tim Robinson’s offbeat energy, uncovered a vulnerable side of Paul Rudd, and crafted a breakup story that’s as funny as it is unsettling—proving comedy hits harder …

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Live with 'New Jack City' Director Mario Van Peebles 37:08

8d ago37:08

37:08

Mario Van Peebles joins IndieWire’s Jim Hemphill for a live version of Filmmaker Toolkit to talk about his directorial debut, “New Jack City.” In a conversation that followed a 35mm screening of the 1991 gangster classic, Van Peebles discusses casting the film, finding its visual language, and the influence of his father Melvin Van Peebles on his a…

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'Will & Harper' Director Josh Greenbaum 47:27

11d ago47:27

47:27

Director Josh Greenbaum took IndieWire behind the scenes of the planning, shooting, and editing of his Emmy nominated documentary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Chris O'Falt

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31 Rules for Directing Episodic TV with Jon Cassar 42:25

15d ago42:25

42:25

Emmy-winning director Jon Cassar joins IndieWire features writer Jim Hemphill for a special episode on Jon’s 31 rules for television directors. These are things he’s learned over the course of 30-plus years and over 200 episodes of TV that range from the technical to the political — all of them vital to sustaining a career. Learn more about your ad…

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'Sly Lives!' Director Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson & Producer Joseph Patel 36:06

18d ago36:06

36:06

"Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)" is a documentary that knows to tell the story of Sly Stone's life and music, you need exceptional craft and storytelling discipline. From depicting music with experimental visuals, to convincing some of music's biggest names to talk on camera, listen to these two filmmakers, musicians, and friends expla…

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'Dimension 20' Creator & Dungeon Master Brennan Lee Mulligan 34:29

21d ago34:29

34:29

Brennan Lee Mulligan, executive producer and GM of "Dimension 20," offers IndieWire a peak inside the dimensional dome and discusses how cinematic tools, from editing and art design to sound effects and physical props, can help enhance Actual Play storytelling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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'Fixed' Director Genndy Tartakovsky 40:37

24d ago40:37

40:37

This episode is a real treat for animation fans, a deep dive into the art and process with the beloved creator of Samurai Jack, Dexter's Lab, Primal, and now the new Netflix movie Fixed. Genndy explained why he fought for 2D animation to keep the dogs less gross, walks us through his process with voice actors, and reveals how Fixed was almost the l…

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'The Pitt' Creator R. Scott Gemmill 42:27

25d ago42:27

42:27

Legendary TV creator R. Scott Gemmill joins the Toolkit to breakdown one of this years biggest shows: 'The Pitt.' Gemmill lifts the curtain on the show's medical accuracy, revealing how doctors consulted from script to set to screen. We think you'll enjoy hearing this master of television discussing what it took to launch yet another hit. Learn mor…

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'Pee-Wee as Himself' Director Matt Wolf 48:48

28d ago48:48

48:48

Paul Rubens, the man who created and became Pee-Wee Herman, has eluded a documentary about his life for a long time. While Matt Wolf was finally able to make a film exploring this complicated artist, it came at a price. Listen to Matt recount his artistic battle with Rubens as they shot the doc, and the shocking personal details he uncovered that b…

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'Together' Director Michael Shanks 37:31

1M ago37:31

37:31

First time director Michael Shanks joined us on Toolkit for a fascinating discussion about the crazy intimacy of directing a real life couple, his roots as an Aussie kid binging After Effects tutorials, and why his particular brand of body horror needed to be very dry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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'The Naked Gun' Director Akiva Schaffer 36:17

1M ago36:17

36:17

As one of the writers behind Lonely Island, and the director of hits like 'Popstar and 'Hot Rod', director Akiva Schaffer was a brilliant choice to helm a revival of one of cinema's most iconic comedy franchises. We dig into the craft behind the comedy, from casting serious actors to going for broke on a particular snowman sequence. Learn more abou…

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Can A.I. Actually Help Write a Screenplay? with 'Contagion' Writer Scott Z. Burns 36:28

1M ago36:28

36:28

On Toolkit we want to explore the challenges facing filmmakers today, and a growing concern is A.I. But we find for all the promises and fears of what A.I.will do, there are few conversations about what A.I. is actually able to do right now. Writer and director Scott Z. Burns has the perfect case study for us: trying to write a sequel to his and St…

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'You Can Count On Me' Director Kenneth Lonergan 55:10

1M ago55:10

55:10

Kenneth Lonergan, one of our host's favorite filmmakers, joins Toolkit to reflect on his first film as a director, 'You Can Count On Me.' He walks us through his transition from writer to the director's chair, and shares stories of working with Mark Ruffalo and Laura Linney on the film that would be their Sundance breakthrough. Learn more about you…

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'I Know What You Did Last Summer' Director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson 32:11

2M ago32:11

32:11

Jennifer Kaytin Robinson joins IndieWire features writer Jim Hemphill to talk about rebooting the 1997 slasher classic. Robinson discusses integrating the original cast members into the story (warning: spoilers!), balancing horror and comedy, and the influence of Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” on her summer thriller. Learn more about your ad choices. Vi…

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'Eddington' Director Ari Aster 38:57

2M ago38:57

38:57

Ari Aster returns to the toolkit for the fourth time with his fourth film, a paranoid social thriller about the summer of 2020 told in a way only this filmmaker can. Ari explores the origins of the film's politics, how he made a western so modern the guns are phones, and unpacks the incredible final act. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit mega…

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Indie Sustainability: Filmmaking Collectives with Omnes' Tyler Taormina & Alexandra Simpson 36:39

2M ago36:39

36:39

Toolkit is taking an ongoing look into the current state of independent filmmaking, and today we have some rare good news to report; indie collectives are on the rise! Two of the filmmakers behind Omnes, which produced this year's 'Eephus' and the new release 'No Sleep Till' join us to discuss how these artists share the burdens of indie filmmaking…

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The Sound Design of David Lynch with his Studio Manager Dean Hurley 1:40:00

2M ago1:40:00

1:40:00

One of our favorite insights into David Lynch's filmmaking comes from Dean Hurley, Lynch's all around sound guy and one of the master's closest collaborators for decades. Hurley reveals that to create one of a kind art, one must have a one of a kind creative process. Listen to our deep dive into Lynch's approach to sound, his process itself was a p…

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'This Is Spinal Tap' Director Rob Reiner 30:49

2M ago30:49

30:49

Director Rob Reiner returns to Filmmaker Toolkit to talk with IndieWire features writer Jim Hemphill about “This is Spinal Tap.” Released in 1984 to widespread acclaim, Reiner’s debut feature created a new form of comedy that inspired countless hours of “mockumentary” TV episodes and films in the decades to follow. On the occasion of the film’s the…

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'Jurassic World: Rebirth' Director Gareth Edwards 37:19

2M ago37:19

37:19

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Chris O'Falt

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'Sorry Baby' Director Eva Victor 30:36

2M ago30:36

30:36

The writer, director, and star of the Sundance hit and new A24 release joins IndieWire's Chris O'Falt to break down their directorial debut. Eva was forthright about the challenges of learning how to direct (including a graduate level film class of sorts supervised by Barry Jenkins) and also explored how she balanced a gentle tonal approach to a to…

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'F1' Director Joseph Kosinski 33:06

2M ago33:06

33:06

The director of 'Top Gun: Maverick' returns to the big screen with his latest feat of cinematic speed. If you want to understand how they really shot F1, this is the interview to listen to. Kosinski breaks down why putting cameras on an F1 car was harder than an a fighter jet, and he reveals the key role VFX played in embedding this movie within an…

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'28 Years Later' Director Danny Boyle 32:37

3M ago32:37

32:37

After reigniting the zombie movie over two decades ago with the groundbreaking '28 Days Later,' Boyle returns to the directors chair along with his writing partner Alex Garland to innovate in the horror space once again. He breaks down the advanced iPhone rigs they used to capture a new sense of violent speed, and digs into the surprisignly emotion…

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'What We Do In The Shadows' Director Yana Gorskaya 34:25

3M ago34:25

34:25

Director, executive producer, and longtime "What We Do In The Shadows" editor Yana Gorskaya discusses why all directors should have to edit a TV comedy, the ambitious designs, props, and worldbuilding that went into creating an afterlife for its Staten Island vampires, the joys of shooting on film for the series finale, and more. Learn more about y…

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'Materialists' Director Celine Song 42:28

3M ago42:28

42:28

The acclaimed writer and director of 'Past Lives' is back to explore the rules and rituals of love in the modern age once again. This time she draws on her own history as a matchmaker to craft a story that dissects romance tropes, and how we define value in other people, and ourselves. Watch full episodes of the Filmmaker Toolkit Podcast: https://y…

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Dropout's 'Very Important People' Director Tamar Levine & Actor Vic Michaelis 45:14

3M ago45:14

45:14

This send up of the interview format from our friends at Dropout challenges comedians to conduct conversations as elaborately created characters. From complex special effects and costumes to the reality breaking meta-narrative, there is a lot to dig into with this series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…