The Next Film

From Actress to Award-Winning DP | Ksusha Genenfeld on Shooting Indie Horror on 16mm

What does it actually take to shoot your first feature on 16mm film, get nominated for cinematography alongside Hoyte van Hoytema, and build a career as one of indie horror's most distinctive visual voices? In this episode of The Next Film, Jessica sits down with cinematographer Ksusha Genenfeld, whose work on the Shudder horror film 'A Wounded Fawn' earned her a cinematography nomination alongside some of the biggest DPs working today— on her very first feature. She's since shot 'Perfect' (SXSW 2026, starring Julia Fox) and 'Motherland' (starring Tony-winner Miriam Silverman) and has seven features under her belt— all while championing 16mm film, all-women camera departments, and a deeply actor-informed approach to cinematography. Whether you're a director trying to understand how to work with your DP, a filmmaker considering shooting on film for the first time, or someone just trying to make something bold on a limited budget, this conversation is packed with honest, craft-level insight from someone doing it at the highest level of indie film. We dive into: • How she got hired to shoot 'A Wounded Fawn' on 16mm— on her very first feature • The visual "rules" she creates for every film • Why she lets actors move first and lights around them • The DP-director relationship• Shooting 'Perfect' and premiering at SXSW 2026 • How color grading can make or break your film— and why she puts it in her contract • Advocating for women behind the camera • Her shooting ratio advice for indie films on 16mm • The tip most indie filmmakers don't know • Why going bold on set beats playing it safe • Her key takeaways from shooting 7 features The Next Film follows the real-time journey of making a second feature — documenting what it actually takes to level up in scope, budget, and craft. Each episode features candid, craft-focused conversations with filmmakers who have done it, are doing it, or are experts in the process. Hosted by award-winning filmmaker & actor Jessica Michael Davis New episodes premiere every Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Subscribe and join the journey, we'd love to have you! @thenextfilmpodcast For partnership inquiries, please contact: TheNextFilmpodcast@gmail.com Let us know in the comments what stage you’re at in your filmmaking journey, what advice resonated most from this episode, or what topics you’d love us to cover next. Produced by Casey Geraghty Support The Next Film: If you value these conversations and want to help keep them free and accessible to filmmakers everywhere, you can make a tax-deductible donation at the link below. Simply select The Next Film from the dropdown menu. https://www.allianceofwomendirectors.org/fiscal-sponsorship/

The Youngest Filmmaker Ever Signed to a Major Studio | Wesley Wang

What happens when your short film goes viral, sparks a four-studio bidding war, Darren Aronofsky sends you a cold email, and you become the youngest filmmaker ever signed to a major studio— and then the film doesn't get greenlit? In this episode of The Next Film, Jessica sits down with Wesley Wang, 21-yr-old writer/director, Harvard student, and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree. His short film 'nothing, except everything' made during his senior year of high school, amassed over 9 million views on YouTube, led to a deal with Sony Tristar produced by Darren Aronofsky, and made him the youngest filmmaker ever to have a project set up at a major studio. Now, he's building his own creative company, developing a Lionsgate series for his YouTube channel, and betting on self-distribution as the future of indie film.Whether you're making your first short, navigating the studio system for the first time, or figuring out how to build an audience and own your distribution— this conversation is packed with honest, unfiltered insight from someone who has already been through it all at 21. We dive into: • How Nothing Except Everything went viral with 9M+ views • The four-studio bidding war and how Darren Aronofsky came on board as producer• What it's really like developing a film inside the studio system • Why the Sony Tristar project didn't get greenlit and what Wesley learned after • How he's now building his own creative company and self-distributing • His upcoming Lionsgate series going straight to his YouTube channel • The power of building your own audience • Being selected for Ari Aster's first Square Peg Social • His advice for anyone navigating their first studio deal The Next Film follows the real-time journey of making a second feature — documenting what it actually takes to level up in scope, budget, and craft. Each episode features candid, craft-focused conversations with filmmakers who have done it, are doing it, or are experts in the process. Hosted by award-winning filmmaker & actor Jessica Michael Davis @jessicamichaeldavis New episodes premiere every Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Subscribe and join the journey, we'd love to have you! @thenextfilmpodcast For partnership inquiries, please contact: TheNextFilmpodcast@gmail.com Let us know in the comments what stage you’re at in your filmmaking journey, what advice resonated most from this episode, or what topics you’d love us to cover next. Support The Next Film:If you value these conversations and want to help keep them free and accessible to filmmakers everywhere, you can make a tax-deductible donation at the link below. Simply select The Next Film from the dropdown menu. https://www.allianceofwomendirectors.org/fiscal-sponsorship/

From $86K SXSW Audience Award Winner to $10M Sony Pictures Film | Jessica M Thompson

What does it actually take to write, direct, produce, and edit your debut feature for $86,000 — win the SXSW Audience Award — and then leap to a $10 million Sony Pictures studio film that opens at #1 at the box office? In this episode of The Next Film, we sit down with Emmy-nominated Australian filmmaker Jessica M. Thompson, whose journey from scrappy indies to Hollywood studio director is as honest and hard-won as they come. She wrote, directed, produced, and edited 'The Light of the Moon', which premiered at SXSW 2017 and won the Audience Award on just a $86K budget — then made the jump to 'The Invitation' at Sony Pictures, which opened at #1 at the box office and hit #2 on Netflix. She's now on her next two films, shooting later this year — American Paradise, shooting in Spain on 35mm, and Natural Selection, which she also wrote. Whether you're writing your first feature, trying to scale up your filmmaking career, or figuring out how to stay true to your vision at every budget level — this conversation is packed with the kind of unfiltered, craft-focused insight that only comes from someone who has done it at every level. We dive into: • How she made her first feature by calling in every favor • What actually changes going from $86K to $10 million (and what doesn't) • How editing shaped her entire approach to directing • Directing the Showtime series 'The End' • Shadowing on 'The Handmaid's Tale'• Why she never sacrifices rehearsal time — and how to fight for it • Her intimacy coordinator training and how it informs her work • The real cost of film festival circuits that no one talks about • How to sustain a career in today's industry • Staying true to yourself above all else The Next Film follows the real-time journey of making a second feature — documenting what it actually takes to level up in scope, budget, and craft. Each episode features candid, craft-focused conversations with filmmakers who have done it, are doing it, or are experts in the process. Hosted by award-winning filmmaker & actor Jessica Michael Davis @jessicamichaeldavis New episodes premiere every Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Subscribe and join the journey, we'd love to have you! @thenextfilmpodcast For partnership inquiries, please contact: TheNextFilmpodcast@gmail.comLet us know in the comments what stage you’re at in your filmmaking journey, what advice resonated most from this episode, or what topics you’d love us to cover next. 🎙 Produced by Casey Geraghty 🎧 Episode presented by Executive Producer Mark Bazil Support The Next Film:If you value these conversations and want to help keep them free and accessible to filmmakers everywhere, you can make a tax-deductible donation at the link below. Simply select The Next Film from the dropdown menu.https://www.allianceofwomendirectors.org/fiscal-sponsorship/

From Indie Roots to Netflix Original | Leah McKendrick

What does it actually take to go from writing and producing your first indie feature to directing a Netflix original—while starring in all of them? In this episode of The Next Film, Jessica sits down with filmmaker and actress Leah McKendrick, whose journey from a $250K SXSW debut to a Netflix original is one of the most honest and hard-won stories in indie film right now. Leah wrote, directed, and starred in 'Scrambled' for Lionsgate & Roadside Attractions and just wrapped 'Voicemails for Isabelle' — a Netflix original she also wrote, directed, and acted in, out June 19th. Whether you're writing your first script, trying to get your indie made, or figuring out how to protect your vision at the studio level—this conversation is packed with the kind of real, unfiltered insight that only comes from someone who has done it at every budget level. We dive into: • How she greenlit herself after two studio projects fell apart in one day • What changes—and what doesn't—going from $250K to Netflix • The truth about writing for studios vs. making your own work• How to handle notes without losing your voice • Balancing writing, directing, and starring all at once • Why "beginner's luck mindset" might be your greatest creative asset • How to pitch from the heart and actually get investors on board • Protecting what matters most in your scriptThis podcast documents the process of making a feature film from the ground up—sharing what works, what doesn’t, and everything in between. Voicemails for Isabelle drops on Netflix June 19th. Leah wrote the script, which made The Blacklist in 2018. She directs and stars in the film, alongside Zoey Deutch, Nick Robinson, Nick Offerman, Lukas Gage, Harry Shum Jr., and Ciara Bravo. The Next Film follows the real-time journey of making a second feature — documenting what it actually takes to level up in scope, budget, and craft. Each episode features candid, craft-focused conversations with filmmakers who have done it, are doing it, or are experts in the process. Hosted by award-winning filmmaker & actor Jessica Michael Davis @jessicamichaeldavis🎬 New episodes premiere every Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Subscribe and join the journey, we'd love to have you! @thenextfilmpodcast For partnership inquiries, please contact: TheNextFilmpodcast@gmail.comLet us know in the comments what stage you’re at in your filmmaking journey, what advice resonated most from this episode, or what topics you’d love us to cover next. 🎙 Produced by Casey Geraghty 🎧 Episode presented by Executive Producer Mark Bazil Support The Next Film:If you value these conversations and want to help keep them free and accessible to filmmakers everywhere, you can make a tax-deductible donation at the link below. Simply select The Next Film from the dropdown menu. https://www.allianceofwomendirectors.org/fiscal-sponsorship/

3 Mistakes I’ve Made Making My Second Feature Film

I’m currently making my second feature film—and I’ve already made some mistakes along the way. In this episode, I break down the biggest lessons I’ve learned in real time—from getting ignored by press to approaching major actors too early, and how I’m adjusting my strategy moving forward. If you’re an indie filmmaker trying to get your film made, attach talent, or get press attention, this is the kind of information no one really talks about. We dive into: • Why press outlets weren’t responding to my emails (and what finally worked) • The truth about approaching big actors without full financing • Why we decided to bring on a casting director • How packaging and strategy can change everything This podcast documents the process of making a feature film from the ground up—sharing what works, what doesn’t, and everything in between. The Next Film follows the real-time journey of making a second feature — documenting what it actually takes to level up in scope, budget, and craft. Each episode features candid, craft-focused conversations with filmmakers who have done it, are doing it, or are experts in the process. Hosted by award-winning filmmaker & actor Jessica Michael Davis @jessicamichaeldavis New episodes premiere every Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Subscribe and join the journey, we'd love to have you! @thenextfilmpodcast For partnership inquiries, please contact: TheNextFilmpodcast@gmail.comLet us know in the comments what stage you’re at in your filmmaking journey, what advice resonated most from this episode, or what topics you’d love us to cover next. 🎙 Produced by Casey Geraghty 🎧 Episode presented with support from Executive Producer Mark Bazil Support The Next Film:If you value these conversations and want to help keep them free and accessible to filmmakers everywhere, you can make a tax-deductible donation at the link below. Simply select The Next Film from the dropdown menu. https://www.allianceofwomendirectors.org/fiscal-sponsorship/