Nowadays, there’s a podcast for just about anything you can think of. No matter how small the niche, chances are someone’s talking about it somewhere on the internet. Naturally, there are hundreds (probably more like thousands) of podcasts out there covering the world of filmmaking. From movie reviews and analyzing the finer details of cinematography to practical tips and advice on production and business, or even inspiring, in-depth interviews with your favorite film director, there’s something for every filmmaker out there.
In fact, you may find yourself a little overwhelmed, spoiled for choice. How do you pick which podcast to listen to? Below, to help get you started and guide you on your audio journey, we’ve listed 15 of the very best filmmaking podcasts in 2023. This is by no means a definitive list and comes in no particular order. If you have other suggestions, we’d love to hear them!
Scriptnotes
Are you a budding screenwriter? This is the podcast for you.
Scriptnotes is hosted by revered screenwriters John August (Go, Charlie’s Angels) and Craig Mazin (Chernobyl, The Last of Us). The duo, evidently bursting with passion for their craft, dive into all kinds of topics, from how to nurture creativity, the realities of the industry and the writing process, practical advice, industry secrets, and some fascinating discussions with other screenwriters. Past guests have included Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul) and Christopher McQuarrie (the Mission Impossible franchise, Top Gun: Maverick). If you’re a screenwriter or filmmaker in general, this is a priceless source of free knowledge and advice from some of the best in the business.
No Film School
Chances are, if you’re researching filmmaking podcasts, the No Film School podcast has cropped up in the search results once or twice, and with good reason.
Think of this as the democratization of filmmaking. As the name may suggest, no longer do you have to go to film school to learn the ropes and make it in Hollywood. The game has changed, and No Film School offers a treasure trove of knowledge, insights and advice for anyone, from beginners to experienced pros. Each episode covers a different aspect of filmmaking, ranging from writing and cinematography to editing and distribution and everything in between. Naturally, there are some great interviews with some of your favorite filmmakers, too. The library of content is a comprehensive one-stop shop for all your filmmaking queries, aimed at helping you achieve your goals no matter where you’ve started.
The Town
Covering breaking industry news and the inner workings of showbiz, The Town is a podcast that’s got its finger on the pulse of Hollywood.
As the former editor of The Hollywood Reporter, host Matt Belloni enjoys access to some of the biggest names of film and television executives and agents. Every Monday, you can tune in to a conversation with Lucas Shah, the well-known industry writer for Bloomberg. Matt also ends every episode with “The Call Sheet,“ where he makes predictions about box office and other industry-related news.
Indie Film Hustle
Filmmaking is not a glamorous business. To make it in Hollywood from humble beginnings is going to take blood, sweat, and tears and the Indie Film Hustle is a podcast that makes sure you know that.
Host and founder Alex Ferrari (having worked on over 1000 projects himself spanning a 25-year career) gives you a very realistic look at what it takes to succeed in the industry, profiling and interviewing people throughout the business from top to bottom, covering all kinds of topics from writing to post-production, distribution and even adapting to industry changes, such as the tumultuous period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Grab a pen and paper because you’ll want to take serious notes.
The A24 Podcast
If the quality of the work produced by the A24 studio is anything to go by, then you already know that this is a podcast worth listening to.
With no fixed host, episodes instead focus on getting two stars together in a room and then letting them discuss…well, whatever they want. Sometimes they know each other and catch up like old friends, and sometimes they’ve never met before. No matter who’s on, it’s always a fun, revealing listen as we learn about the inspiration and anecdotes behind some of the industry’s most famous directors and talented actors. Guests include Martin Scorsese, the Safdie brothers and Oscar winners Michelle Yeoh and Brendan Fraser.
The Wandering DP Podcast
Each and every week, cinematographer and host Patrick O’Sullivan sits down to discuss the latest stories both on- and off-set with some of the world’s best cinematographers. Alongside excellent, in-depth conversations, you’ll find plenty of news, inspiration and updates from all around the photography and cinematography worlds.
If you’re an ambitious DP looking to up your cinematography game, this is the number one podcast for you. Within the library of episodes, you can find plenty of technical knowledge on all kinds of aspects, such as lighting and composition. Depending on the topic, there are even accompanying PDFs with diagrams for you to download and utilize.
Team Deakins
Imagine sitting with one of the greatest cinematographers of all time (Roger Deakins) and picking his brain on the industry. Well, with the Team Deakins podcast, that’s pretty much reality.
Roger Deakins and his collaborator James Ellis Deakins discuss cinematography and the film industry, as well as hosting plenty of talented guests from actors to editors, directors and cinematographers. The best part is that listeners can submit their questions and have them answered by the legend himself.
Unspooled
Using a poll of more than 1500 artists and leaders throughout the filmmaking industry, who chose from a list of 400 movies, the AFI (American Film Institute) has determined a list of the 100 best American movies. In this podcast, hosts Paul Scheer (actor) and Amy Nicholson (film critic) sat down to discuss each and every film on the list — why are they so great? Or perhaps, why are they on this list?
More recently, they’re now generating new lists covering different genres with input from their listeners, covering the key scenes of each film and even getting to chat with the cast and crew. For any cinephile and filmmaker looking to analyze classic movies, this is the perfect listen.
The Director’s Cut
The best thing about filmmaking podcasts is that you can learn and glean so much information from the very best in the business. If you’re an aspiring film director, no podcast is better than The Director’s Cut.
Presented by the DGA (Director’s Guild of America), this podcast delivers amazing in-depth interviews between directors as they come together to discuss their films, careers, and creative perspectives. Quentin Tarantino, Christopher Nolan, James Cameron, Guillermo Del Toro — they’re all here!
Off Camera
Off Camera is a fantastic library of podcast episodes interviewing some of the biggest names in the filmmaking business.
Director and photographer Sam Jones is the host, sitting down for intriguing, often vulnerable, and always honest long-form conversations with the likes of Jake Gyllenhaal, Chadwick Boseman, Constance Wu, and just about any other great actor or director you can name. The show began way back in 2004 and is available in audio, video, and even magazine form.
“We tend to see the people that come on ‘Off Camera’ as artists and craftsmen. We want to know how they do their craft, how they got there, and what makes them keep going to work,” said Sam.
The Business
Whether you’re an indie filmmaker looking to break into Hollywood or a seasoned industry pro, The Business is always a podcast worth tuning in to.
Former NPR Correspondent and current Hollywood Reporter editor Kim Masters gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the engine room of Hollywood — the nitty gritty of what makes it tick. There are great interviews with the biggest names in the business (actors, producers, directors, writers) as well as fresh, new perspectives and insights about the latest goings-on in the industry, meaning you’ll always be up to date. With short runtimes of 20 to 30 minutes, this is a good one to listen to while cleaning the house or making the commute to work.
The Filmcast
Consider yourself a cinephile? If so, The Filmcast (formally The /Filmcast when part of the Slash Film website) is always a great listen.
Movie geeks David Chen, Devindra Hadawar and Jeff Cannata dive deep into the latest films and TV shows, offering up highly entertaining reviews and debates. They regularly chat with guests from all corners of the industry, including film critics, everyday bloggers, film directors and movie stars. This is a great way to find out what critics are thinking and saying about the latest releases, keeping your finger on the pulse of pop culture and perhaps saving yourself a trip to the cinema upon realizing that Fast X probably isn’t worth it and realistically, the franchise should’ve died a long time back…
How did this get made?
On the topic of the Fast and Furious franchise and wondering how terrible movies get made…there’s a podcast for that, too.
Loving a movie because it’s so bad is a genuine thing and there are some great cult classics out there that really do beg the question: how did this get made? This fun podcast sees hosts Paul Scheer, June Diane Raphael and Jason Mantzoukas break down some of the worst movies ever made. Just because a movie is bad doesn’t mean it’s not worth watching – there are still loads of valuable lessons that can be garnered from it, and this podcast is proof of that. Sometimes they’ll even bring on guests like Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg.
Blockbuster
Blockbuster is a slightly different type of filmmaking podcast compared to some of the others listed here, but it’s absolutely worth checking out.
Created in a narrative style format, voice actors guide you through the drama and stories of some of the biggest film directors on the planet. In season one, the podcast focuses on the rise of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. In season two, James Cameron is in the spotlight. In addition to the narrative drama, there are also plenty of interesting bonus interviews with the crew who worked with James on some of his most iconic films.
You can watch the trailer for season 1 here:
IndieWire Screen Talk
Whether it’s film festivals, new releases, or the future of the industry, IndieWire’s Screen Talk is a podcast that keeps your finger on the pulse.
Hosts Eric Kohn (Indie Wire’s chief film critic) and Anne Thompson (Thompson on Hollywood) get together weekly to review the latest films (both indie hits at film festivals as well as the latest blockbusters), dissect the latest festival news, and chat with plenty of top filmmakers and industry insiders. If you want to keep up with the business and understand where it’s headed, this is a podcast that should be on rotation.
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