In this episode, Chris, Mike, and special guest/producer Steve catch up post-film festival to unpack the last few chaotic weeks of filmmaking, festivals, and film nerdery. The guys recount an award-nominated short they worked on, the highs and lows of networking at Golden Door Film Festival and the NJ Film Expo, and some sharp critique on another 9/11-themed short that left everyone confused.

They also break down key takeaways from the B&H Build Expo — including what makes video content actually connect with people — and try to make sense of a whirlwind talk from an eccentric AI influencer who may or may not have burned down her childhood home.

Plus: Full spoiler review of the new F1 racing film starring Brad Pitt, including what made it work, what fell flat, and how the hell they actually filmed it. (Hint: iPhones, GoPros, and possibly witchcraft.) It’s an episode that swerves from filmmaking strategy to movie criticism to martial arts choreography… with a few laughs and alcohol-related regrets along the way.

0:00 - Intro 05:13 - Networking for film 11:43 - Golden Gate Film Fest 16:00 - The 9/11 Movie We Saw 23:01 - Viral Content Pillars (what we learned) 35:41 - AI Scam or Actual Good Idea? 51:43 - Complete F1 Movie Review 53:46 - F1 General Impressions 58:15 - F1 Movie Fun Facts 01:05:43 - F1 Missed Opportunities? 01:15:37 - Cars Are Dangerous 01:19:26 - Almost Friday TV & Joel Haver

Find out more at https://until-you-make-it.pinecast.co

What’s it like working at Netflix Animation for years… and never having anything released? In this episode, we catch up with Joshua Lewkowicz, a longtime friend of the show and an assistant/associate editor at Netflix, to unpack the unseen side of the animation industry — the long hours, the creative burnout, and the projects that disappear into studio limbo. Josh talks candidly about the experience of working on unreleased shows, the highs and lows of bouncing between roles, and what it means to feel like your work isn’t seeing the light of day.

We also dig into why Andor might be the best Star Wars series ever made — and how it succeeds where so many others fall flat — before ending with a wild behind-the-scenes story involving stunt choreography, last-minute prep, and Kel Mitchell’s… anatomy.

It’s a funny and sobering look at the creative grind — from inside one of the biggest studios in the world.

00:00 - Intro 02:39 - Josh Works At Netflix Animation 05:07 - Making Art No One Will See 16:44 - The Artist Struggle 20:10 - Treat It Like A JOB 26:01 - Why go to Disney Land so often? 31:54 - Is Star Wars Land Cool or nah? 40:21 - Andor is GREAT 52:19 - Guillermo del Toro loves Josh 58:31 - The Kel Mitchell Story 01:15:41 - Test Screening our New Film 01:21:13 - GAME TIME: Writers Room

Find out more at https://until-you-make-it.pinecast.co

What’s it really like to tour with a band while shooting their music videos, managing merch, and directing creative strategy—sometimes all at once? On this episode of Until You Make It, we sit down with photographer, videographer, and all-around creative multitasker Connor Meany. From building DIY sets for $10K music video albums to shooting concerts while also acting as tour manager, Connor shares his journey of turning passion projects into a sustainable creative career in the music industry.

Connor opens up about the highs and lows of wearing eight different hats on the road, shifting back into music after a stint in e-commerce, and how creative autonomy fuels his best work. We dive deep into the changing expectations of music content creators, surviving the social media video grind, and why working with artists you truly connect with matters more than ever.

00:00:00 - In this ep
00:00:57 - Hosts Catch Up
00:03:20 - What we can learn from grandparents
00:10:50 - Connor intro
00:21:40 - Shooting with bands, how does it work?
00:25:13 - Music video budgets (Save Face)
00:33:00 - Getting creative with budgets
00:40:08 - The shift to "jack-of-all-trades"
00:48:23 - How do you grow shooting music?
00:53:48 - What should you focus on?
00:57:43 - Corporate gigs vs. Passion
01:08:04 - What's your dream music video project?
01:14:20 - Has AI affected this industry?
01:21:23 - Authenticity will prevail... kinda
01:30:18 - The shift to social first content
01:35:03 - What's touring with a band like?
01:46:40 - Never stop making
01:51:53 - The GREAT DEBATE (movie theater madness)
01:58:31 - CHICKEN JOCKEY
02:24:50 - GAME SEGMENT (Improv Music)

Find out more at https://until-you-make-it.pinecast.co